: thinking about something or someone too much or in a way that is not normal : having an obsession
Many dancers are obsessive about their weight.
He is an obsessive workaholic who never stops thinking about his job.
: showing or relating to an obsession
an obsessive interest in space travel
The new therapy is supposed to help people control their obsessive thoughts.
obsessive attention to detail
plural obsessives
psychology
: a person who thinks about something too much or in a way that is not normal : someone who is obsessed
Cite this Entry
“Obsessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/obsessive. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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