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

Synonyms of obsessive

• impulsive
• compulsive
• obsessional

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

Weaver plays Grandma Helen, the matriarch of the family and mother of Gavin and Abbi’s deceased father, who was an obsessive hoarder. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 11 Nov. 2025

And interestingly, there’s no resentment between the obsessive and the expressive explorers, Brown said. —Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2025

Like Crazy is a movie about how destructive an obsessive relationship can be, and because Samantha is the sane one in the ensemble, she’s doomed. —Tim Grierson, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2025

In Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s gothic classic, obsessive scientist Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) creates life in the form of his patchwork Creature (Jacob Elordi). —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

obsess + -ive

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing obsessive

• obsessive-compulsive
• obsessive-compulsive disorder

Rhymes for obsessive

• aggressive
• compressive
• concessive
• depressive
• excessive
• expressive
• impressive
• oppressive
• possessive
• progressive
• recessive
• regressive

Kids 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