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

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.
Doctors have been seeking a non-opioid drug as a less addictive alternative to narcotics. Justin Zacks, CNBC, 4 June 2026 Mimicking the addictive pull and passive consumption of social media, these works also function as critiques of capitalism. Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 4 June 2026 It’s widely considered one of the world’s most addictive substances — yet influencers are pitching nicotine as a wellness tool. Kimberly Richardson, CNN Money, 4 June 2026 Nicotine is among the most addictive substances known, altering the brain’s reward pathways and making quitting notoriously difficult. Kimberly McCreight, Time, 3 June 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster