OCD

abbreviation or noun

: a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions or compulsions or both that cause significant distress, are time-consuming, and interfere with normal daily functioning : obsessive-compulsive disorder
The subjects of the experiment were 18 people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)—unwanted and pointless but irresistible intrusive thoughts (e.g., fear of contamination by germs) and repetitive actions (e.g., handwashing or change-counting).The Harvard Medical School Mental Health Letter
OCD is a mental health condition that "involves both obsessions and compulsions that take up a lot of time and get in the way of important activities, such as school, family life, extracurricular activities, developing friendships, and self-care," according to the International OCD Foundation.Sarah D. Collins

Examples of OCD in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On Translation Eli Rallo writes about avoiding the OB-GYN, OCD obsessions, and pretending to be okay. Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025 The titles in The Infinity Rainbow Club series feature a group of five children with diagnoses like autism, ADHD, and OCD who spend time together in a school club for neurodivergent children. Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 15 Oct. 2025 She is affiliated with the International OCD Foundation, and the Family Foundation for OCD Research. Carol Mathews, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025 In some cases, constant licking that can't be interrupted may be a sign of canine OCD. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for OCD

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“OCD.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/OCD. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

OCD

abbreviation or noun
: a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions or compulsions or both that cause significant distress, are time-consuming, and interfere with normal daily functioning : obsessive-compulsive disorder
Childhood and adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorders are sometimes seen in dermatology practice. When present, OCD is most frequently manifested in younger patients as trichotillomaniaJ. Y. Koo and L. L. Smith, Pediatric Dermatology
… drugs such as Prozac help relieve the symptoms of OCD, but 90 percent of medicated patients relapse when the drugs are withdrawn. More effective is behavioral therapy, which has a cure rate of up to 80 percent.Josie Glausiusz, Discover

More from Merriam-Webster on OCD

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!