addictive

adjective

ad·​dic·​tive ə-ˈdik-tiv How to pronounce addictive (audio)
a-
Synonyms of addictivenext
: causing or characterized by addiction
an addictive drug
an addictive personality

Synonyms of addictive

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Examples of addictive in a Sentence

highly addictive drugs like crack and heroin the addictive thrill of surfing
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.
Nintendo; simplicity both in its presentation and addictive gameplay loop are reminders of what the fun-first company does best. — Mitch Wallace, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Psilocybin isn’t addictive, but research hasn’t established that microdosing is safe. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 5 Aug. 2026 The Prime Video show is so addictive that even Morgan finished it in one sitting. — Samantha Highfill, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026 Raoul has joined lawsuits against both Meta and TikTok, alleging the companies have addictive designs that exploit children. — Ben Szalinski, CBS News, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for addictive

Word History

Etymology

addict entry 2 + -ive

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of addictive was in 1891

Rhymes for addictive

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Browse Nearby Words

addiction
addictive
add-in
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Addictive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/addictive. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

addictive

adjective
ad·​dic·​tive ə-ˈdik-tiv How to pronounce addictive (audio)
a-
: causing or characterized by addiction
an addictive drug
an addictive game

Medical Definition

addictive

adjective
ad·​dic·​tive ə-ˈdik-tiv How to pronounce addictive (audio)
: causing or characterized by addiction
addictive drugs

Legal Definition

addictive

adjective
ad·​dic·​tive ə-ˈdik-tiv How to pronounce addictive (audio)
: causing or characterized by addiction
addictive drugs

More from Merriam-Webster on addictive

Nglish: Translation of addictive for Spanish Speakers

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