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
Minnesota on Tuesday joined a wave of states suing TikTok, alleging the social media giant preys on young people with addictive algorithms that trap them into becoming compulsive consumers of its short videos.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2025
Minnesota on Tuesday joined a wave of states suing TikTok, alleging the social media giant preys on young people with addictive algorithms that trap them into becoming compulsive consumers of its short videos.
—Steve Karnowski, Twin Cities, 19 Aug. 2025
This might be due to an obsession or compulsive behavior on someone’s part.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025
There's swordsman Roronoa Zoro, thief and navigator Nami, sniper and compulsive liar Usopp, and a cook named Sanji.
—ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2025
Minnesota on Tuesday joined a wave of states suing TikTok, alleging the social media giant preys on young people with addictive algorithms that trap them into becoming compulsive consumers of its short videos.
—Steve Karnowski, Twin Cities, 19 Aug. 2025
This might be due to an obsession or compulsive behavior on someone’s part.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025
There's swordsman Roronoa Zoro, thief and navigator Nami, sniper and compulsive liar Usopp, and a cook named Sanji.
—ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsive
Adjective
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So much of the unlikely story is about Lightfoot’s obsessive attention to detail and commitment to getting the story right, which resulted in a classic ballad that has helped keep the ship’s memory alive.—
John U. Bacon,
Rolling Stone,
30 Sep. 2025
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The story explores a father’s obsessive pursuit of justice for his missing daughter, highlighting the devastating impact of loss and raising questions about the boundaries between justice and vigilantism, per the logline.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Stewart-Allen believes Disney’s actions with Kimmel were impulsive.—
Natasha Chen,
CNN Money,
25 Sep. 2025
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Susannah was a kindhearted but sometimes impulsive woman.—
Sarah John,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsive. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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