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
An obsessive interest in my family’s history and trying to make sense of it.
—
Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025
The pair of devices customized for The Vault epitomizes the obsessive attention to detail that has earned Specht accolades worldwide.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 9 Dec. 2025
With its insistent, obsessive patter, not to mention its unrelenting commitment to in-your-face vulgarity, Sherman’s comedy is hardly for everyone.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
The fashion industry, which is ever more obsessive about growth as the focus narrows to just a few key, conglomerate-run players, is generally running the risk of pushing aside creative ingenuity.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
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Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025
The pair of devices customized for The Vault epitomizes the obsessive attention to detail that has earned Specht accolades worldwide.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 9 Dec. 2025
With its insistent, obsessive patter, not to mention its unrelenting commitment to in-your-face vulgarity, Sherman’s comedy is hardly for everyone.
—Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2025
The fashion industry, which is ever more obsessive about growth as the focus narrows to just a few key, conglomerate-run players, is generally running the risk of pushing aside creative ingenuity.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Cite this Entry
“Obsessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obsessive. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.
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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