obsessive
adjective
ob·ses·sive
äb-ˈse-siv 
əb-
1
a
: tending to cause obsession
b
: excessive often to an unreasonable degree
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
Gossip Girl’s Penn Badgley reprises his role as the charming yet obsessive serial killer, Joe, who is returning to where his story began: New York City.
—
Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Issues of urban renewal, the value of public art, the difficulty of being married to an obsessive artist and lots more run through Workman’s film.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
With his question still unanswered, the narrator’s obsessive pursuit of the truth becomes entwined with an ever more desperate – and dangerous – quest to find Sylvia.
—Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2025
This sudden violence precipitates a few things, which include an obsessive mental spiral on Addie’s part.
—Willing Davidson, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
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Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Issues of urban renewal, the value of public art, the difficulty of being married to an obsessive artist and lots more run through Workman’s film.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
With his question still unanswered, the narrator’s obsessive pursuit of the truth becomes entwined with an ever more desperate – and dangerous – quest to find Sylvia.
—Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2025
This sudden violence precipitates a few things, which include an obsessive mental spiral on Addie’s part.
—Willing Davidson, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 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 3 May. 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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