as in obsessive
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge
his compulsive clowning around can sometimes be annoying
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Recent Examples of compulsive
The First Academy was portrayed as a compulsive cheater
Bridgewater is being portrayed as a compassionate martyr.
—
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2025
Mellors’ elegant, compulsive debut novel explores the doomed relationship between lovers Cleo and Frank.
—Hattie Williams
july 14, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
The app is not designed for compulsive user engagement, the company never sells user data, and there are no comments sections.
—Aarushi Bhandari, The Conversation, 14 July 2025
These systems are built on compulsive design, emotional triggers and algorithmic reinforcement.
—Mira Tzur, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2025
Mellors’ elegant, compulsive debut novel explores the doomed relationship between lovers Cleo and Frank.
—Hattie Williams
july 14, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
The app is not designed for compulsive user engagement, the company never sells user data, and there are no comments sections.
—Aarushi Bhandari, The Conversation, 14 July 2025
These systems are built on compulsive design, emotional triggers and algorithmic reinforcement.
—Mira Tzur, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsive
Adjective
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Part memoir, part manual, Kobe gave a behind-the-scenes look at his training routine, film study habits, recovery practices, and his obsessive attention to detail.—
True Tamplin,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
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Part of the thing about shadow casting is getting your costumes to be screen accurate to a really obsessive degree.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Acting swiftly is essential but avoid impulsive decisions.—
Raymond Umerley,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
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His impulsive diplomacy and disregard for allies make a sustainable peace unlikely.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsive. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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