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
The Harvard Medical School Mental Health LetterOCD 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
Sarah D. CollinsExamples of OCD in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
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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
Cite this Entry
“OCD.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/OCD. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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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 trichotillomania …—J. Y. Koo and L. L. Smith, Pediatric Dermatology
J. 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
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