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
Balancing compulsive watchability with a touch of class, the company is still trying to break the mold while simultaneously catering to the masses.
—
Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
Non-purging methods like compulsive fasting or excessive exercise following a meal are also sometimes diagnosed as a form of bulimia.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 3 June 2025
Colin is like a fledgling bird, all crazy-eyed intensity and compulsive chatter.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
It’s characterized by an intense fascination, often leading to unhealthy behaviors such as the compulsive seeking of information, and, at its very worst, stalking.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
Non-purging methods like compulsive fasting or excessive exercise following a meal are also sometimes diagnosed as a form of bulimia.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 3 June 2025
Colin is like a fledgling bird, all crazy-eyed intensity and compulsive chatter.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
It’s characterized by an intense fascination, often leading to unhealthy behaviors such as the compulsive seeking of information, and, at its very worst, stalking.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsive
Adjective
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Even the most obsessive dancing queen will find fresh storytelling and breadth in these pages.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
20 June 2025
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And Williams really stuck the landing by disclosing a relatable flaw: obsessive rule-following.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Written and directed by documentarian Brian Tetsuro Ivie (Emanuel) in his narrative directorial debut, the film tells the story of an impulsive young woman and a reclusive older man who launch on a poignant cross‑country road trip.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
26 June 2025
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Unfortunately, impulsive, inventory-optimization metric chasing often soothes symptoms while elevating strategic risk.—
Noah Barsky,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsive. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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