obsessive
adjective
ob·ses·sive
äb-ˈse-siv 
əb-
1
a
: tending to cause obsession
b
: excessive often to an unreasonable degree
an obsessive interest
2
: of, relating to, or characterized by obsession : deriving from obsession
obsessive
noun
obsessively
adverb
obsessiveness
noun
Examples of obsessive in a Sentence
Many dancers are obsessive about their weight.
He is an obsessive workaholic who never stops thinking about his job.
an obsessive interest in space travel
The new therapy is supposed to help people control their obsessive thoughts.
Recent Examples on the Web
On the brink of prom queen glory and a coveted athletic scholarship, obsessive overachiever Kat Walker (Anwen O’Driscoll) is determined to maintain the flawless image she’s built for herself and for her devoted single mother, Abigail (Danielle Panabaker).
—
Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
In early modernity, women were the keepers of this obsessive temporality of attention—of the current of time that flows beneath event, beneath change.
—Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
Goldberg was obsessive about using original materials, apparently bragging to neighbors about outbidding Martha Stewart on a set of tiles at auction.
—Jesse Armas, Curbed, 16 June 2026
Tis a deep, obsessive fashion love.
—Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
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Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
In early modernity, women were the keepers of this obsessive temporality of attention—of the current of time that flows beneath event, beneath change.
—Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
Goldberg was obsessive about using original materials, apparently bragging to neighbors about outbidding Martha Stewart on a set of tiles at auction.
—Jesse Armas, Curbed, 16 June 2026
Tis a deep, obsessive fashion love.
—Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Cite this Entry
“Obsessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obsessive. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obsessive
adjective
ob·ses·sive
äb-ˈses-iv
əb-
: of, relating to, having, or being an obsession
obsessively
adverb
Medical Definition
obsessive
1 of 2 adjective
ob·ses·sive
äb-ˈses-iv, əb-
: of, relating to, causing, or characterized by obsession : deriving from obsession
obsessive behavior
obsessively
adverb
obsessiveness
noun
obsessive
2 of 2 noun
: an obsessive individual
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