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
Gene Hackman — who developed new shades of menace and gravitas with each passing year — turns in a career-best performance as the determined and obsessive Det.
—
Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
The obsessive insect scientist spent entirely too much of his career and a not-insignificant amount of taxpayer money watching screwworms doing the wild thing.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Its Gold Outstanding medal suggests that Japanese producers are bringing the same obsessive attention to detail that reshaped their whisky to a new category.
—Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Season 4 focused on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito from the safety of the Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
The obsessive insect scientist spent entirely too much of his career and a not-insignificant amount of taxpayer money watching screwworms doing the wild thing.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Its Gold Outstanding medal suggests that Japanese producers are bringing the same obsessive attention to detail that reshaped their whisky to a new category.
—Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Season 4 focused on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito from the safety of the Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 11 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 15 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
