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
Brent, by contrast, is a magnetic and enigmatic force — brilliant, elusive, and driven by an almost compulsive need to run toward danger.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2026
In the preliminary findings of an ongoing investigation into the social media app, the commission has declared that TikTok’s compulsive design may put it in breach of the Digital Services Act.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 27 Feb. 2026
Employees at the company, then known as Facebook, proposed a public audit of design features that might contribute to compulsive use of the platform in the fall of 2018, citing growing public concern that tech companies were intentionally manipulating users, according to the documents.
—Cnn, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
Employees at the company, then known as Facebook, proposed a public audit of design features that might contribute to compulsive use of the platform in the fall of 2018, citing growing public concern that tech companies were intentionally manipulating users, according to the documents.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2026
In the preliminary findings of an ongoing investigation into the social media app, the commission has declared that TikTok’s compulsive design may put it in breach of the Digital Services Act.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 27 Feb. 2026
Employees at the company, then known as Facebook, proposed a public audit of design features that might contribute to compulsive use of the platform in the fall of 2018, citing growing public concern that tech companies were intentionally manipulating users, according to the documents.
—Cnn, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
Employees at the company, then known as Facebook, proposed a public audit of design features that might contribute to compulsive use of the platform in the fall of 2018, citing growing public concern that tech companies were intentionally manipulating users, according to the documents.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsive
Adjective
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Nathan Lane, who famously played an obsessive Maria Callas fan in Terrence McNally’s play The Lisbon Traviata, had some harsh words for the opera- and ballet-bashing Timothée Chalamet on today’s The View.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
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Beef first premiered on Netflix in 2023, with Ali Wong and Steven Yeun leading the cast of season 1, which centered around two people who lock into an obsessive feud after a road-rage incident throws them into each other’s paths.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But the relief of not having to wait for surgery mixed with the shock of the moment made Giese and her husband impulsive.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
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The American president appears to have no clear end game for his war against Iran, and his seemingly impulsive use of military force may in fact enhance Xi’s call for a more balanced, pragmatic global order.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsive. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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