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
Extreme deficits may lead to obsessive food tracking, anxiety around eating, or disordered eating patterns.
—
Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 6 Jan. 2026
Any new publication of hers is mandatory reading, and not just because transgender Americans are under an obsessive, incessant series of assaults from the current administration and the right more broadly.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
In the past, Mia had suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder and intrusive, distressing thoughts.
—Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
His legal team wrote in a filing ahead of the hearing that Cole had been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 1, and obsessive compulsive disorder.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
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Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 6 Jan. 2026
Any new publication of hers is mandatory reading, and not just because transgender Americans are under an obsessive, incessant series of assaults from the current administration and the right more broadly.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
In the past, Mia had suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder and intrusive, distressing thoughts.
—Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
His legal team wrote in a filing ahead of the hearing that Cole had been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 1, and obsessive compulsive disorder.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 2 Jan. 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 11 Jan. 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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