as in attracts
to hold one's attention to an extreme degree
The TV show obsessed me so much that I was up all night watching.
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Recent Examples of obsesses
As if what delights and obsesses us must have a purpose.
—
Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
Much of Muscle Man really is plotless—Harold steals a student’s backpack, goes to a department meeting, then fits in a workout—but Casey is a common thread, as Harold often obsesses about securing his approval.
—Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Page Six of the New York Post predictably leaps on every Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift nugget, obsesses on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, and likes reminding readers whenever Zoë Kravitz and Harry Styles are holding hands in a Brooklyn bar.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
The band’s manager obsesses over social-media impressions.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
Much of Muscle Man really is plotless—Harold steals a student’s backpack, goes to a department meeting, then fits in a workout—but Casey is a common thread, as Harold often obsesses about securing his approval.
—Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Page Six of the New York Post predictably leaps on every Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift nugget, obsesses on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, and likes reminding readers whenever Zoë Kravitz and Harry Styles are holding hands in a Brooklyn bar.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2025
The band’s manager obsesses over social-media impressions.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsesses
Verb
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Many commercial traps contain an ingredient that attracts one kind of yellowjacket, but not all common types in the South, such as southern or German yellowjackets.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
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The modern space, with six pools, three saunas, a steam room, and café, attracts a scene, especially on a Friday night.—
Devorah Lev-Tov,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The school’s origins are cultish, an area that fascinates Martin.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
12 Oct. 2025
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Ange Postecoglou fascinates me.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Plus, the potential for more swappable panels intrigues the modder in us; the first ones, the Stone and Natural options, look promising.—
Thomas Soderstrom,
PC Magazine,
4 Oct. 2025
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At the very least, the prospect of doing more with younger Ed and Lorraine intrigues the performers.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Wine is something that interests me.—
Bryce Jones,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Oct. 2025
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So there's a lot that happens when kids learn to read and then read what interests them.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obsesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsesses. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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