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
Yet this compulsive desire to win bleeds into every aspect of the team’s management, perhaps best evidenced by the fact that Giddey and Matas Buzelis remained on the court until the final 80 seconds Sunday despite both being fresh off ankle sprains.
—
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsive
Adjective
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Felder, an architect with an obsessive streak, thought extensively about the design of his banner, ultimately opting for a white sign with lettering the precise shade of blue as the Star of David on the Israeli flag.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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What about a former Directioner superfan to freak out Niall Horan with their obsessive knowledge?—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Players admit emotions can get the best of them, leading to impulsive challenges that cost their team later in the game.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2026
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His impulsive decision-making and lack of a strategy for exiting the Iran war are also ingredients for hardship and disaster.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsive. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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