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
While these choices, which borderline on obsessive, would lead many to assume that this is my favorite workout, in fact, the opposite is true.
—
Ellen O’Brien, SELF, 16 Dec. 2025
Her portrayal of obsessive nurse Annie Wilkes won Bates an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best actress.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
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Ellen O’Brien, SELF, 16 Dec. 2025
Her portrayal of obsessive nurse Annie Wilkes won Bates an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best actress.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Cite this Entry
“Obsessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obsessive. Accessed 21 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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