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
That compulsive need for authority is a quality that Reubens’ friends and family members observed in him, going all the way back to his childhood.
—
Dave Itzkoff, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
There are also potential long-term effects on kittens separated too early, with studies showing that kittens taken from their mother too early may be increasingly vocal in stressful situations or at higher risk of developing compulsive behaviors or aggression.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
But research on lottery winners shows the opposite: fast money often leads to long-term dissatisfaction and compulsive behavior.
—Shane Enete, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Polish doctors urged further investigation into compulsive frotteurs.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Dave Itzkoff, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
There are also potential long-term effects on kittens separated too early, with studies showing that kittens taken from their mother too early may be increasingly vocal in stressful situations or at higher risk of developing compulsive behaviors or aggression.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
But research on lottery winners shows the opposite: fast money often leads to long-term dissatisfaction and compulsive behavior.
—Shane Enete, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Polish doctors urged further investigation into compulsive frotteurs.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsive
Adjective
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Even with an obsessive showrunner at the helm, this series would’ve gone nowhere without the outsized talents of our writers’ room.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
30 May 2025
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Betting Big on the Creator Middle Class Stan has grown to more than 70,000 users in just three years, a trajectory that founder and CEO John Hu attributes to obsessive focus on creators who are building real, sustainable businesses without massive teams, investors or platforms.—
Ian Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Although bad things do happen to him, they are often caused by his own careless and impulsive nature.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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Move slowly and be careful about impulsive ideas and actions.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Compulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsive. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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