as in obsessive
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge
his compulsive clowning around can sometimes be annoying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of compulsive
Smith resorted to compulsive prayer and attempting to reason with the obsessions as a way of bringing about a respite to his struggles.
—
Ben Morse, CNN Money, 25 June 2025
That’s almost as rom-com-relatable as compulsive klutziness.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 June 2025
To avoid the most negative outcomes including overspending, compulsive gambling, and financial dependence on others, money status seekers should take a step back.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 21 May 2025
Companies should prioritize identifying and addressing compulsive work mentalities, particularly when coupled with low engagement.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Ben Morse, CNN Money, 25 June 2025
That’s almost as rom-com-relatable as compulsive klutziness.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 June 2025
To avoid the most negative outcomes including overspending, compulsive gambling, and financial dependence on others, money status seekers should take a step back.
—Rachel Barber, USA Today, 21 May 2025
Companies should prioritize identifying and addressing compulsive work mentalities, particularly when coupled with low engagement.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsive
Adjective
-
The Residence starred Uzo Aduba as quirky detective Cordelia Cupp, who uses her cunning intellect and obsessive bird-watching abilities to crack otherwise unsolvable cases.—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
2 July 2025
-
In a saturated mid-market bracket, Hampton’s leadership has managed to differentiate the brand through an obsessive drive to understand customers.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
Outfits that once felt aspirational quickly become irrelevant, leaving behind a cycle of impulsive purchases, lukewarm satisfaction, and the constant itch for reinvention.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Essence,
8 July 2025
-
Back in 1937, Winfield James, Harry Caldwell and Jimmy Pickard — three impulsive teens from Abilene, just out of high school and trying to avoid summer jobs — paddled a small canoe some 660 miles down the Colorado from Ballinger, Texas, to the Gulf of Mexico.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsive. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share