Synonyms of compulsive

compulsive

adjective

kəm-ˈpəl-siv 

as in obsessive

caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge

his compulsive clowning around can sometimes be annoying

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obsessive
• impulsive
• obsessional
• driven
• spontaneous
• automatic
• instinctive
• uncontrollable
• besetting
• irrepressible
• reflex
• mechanical
• unconscious
• unpredictable
• unthinking
• involuntary
• conditioned
• knee-jerk
• whimsical
• capricious
• unwitting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• voluntary
• willful
• manageable
• controllable
• unforced
• resistible

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of compulsive

Pillemer, who describes himself as a compulsive worrier, has turned that advice into a practice of his own. — Angela Haupt, Time, 18 Aug. 2026

Meditation Rings frames the ring as a tool for forming a new habit loop, associating the fidget motion with a positive behavior that can replace a compulsive one. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 18 Aug. 2026

For some, abstaining from alcohol can subsequently increase compulsive drinking. — Marie Doyle, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026

Intrusive, never-ending thought spirals drive compulsive behaviors such as binging, overexercising, purging and restrictive eating. — Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2026