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
But that’s not all, as Markle, in particular, reportedly obsesses over details.
—
Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 29 Dec. 2025
As the Front Range obsesses over a 10-2 Broncos team and the Nuggets’ sudden indifference to defense, Nasty Nate is quietly painting his professional masterpiece across Ball Arena’s frozen canvas.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 3 Dec. 2025
All of this scares me, interests me, obsesses me.
—Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 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
Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 29 Dec. 2025
As the Front Range obsesses over a 10-2 Broncos team and the Nuggets’ sudden indifference to defense, Nasty Nate is quietly painting his professional masterpiece across Ball Arena’s frozen canvas.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 3 Dec. 2025
All of this scares me, interests me, obsesses me.
—Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 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
-
To keep this important cog in the development wheel turning, Goodspeed budgets carefully, sells a lot of tickets (including weekend passes and packages with dinner options) and attracts patrons who give donations specifically to the festival.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The Arc de Triomphe is clearly an icon of Paris and attracts a significant tourist crowd.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Then there’s the story of life, which also really fascinates me.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Dec. 2025
-
Kafka’s work still fascinates readers — like Polish filmmaking legend Holland.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
All of these have a spiritual edge to them that intrigues me, too.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
15 Dec. 2025
-
What intrigues you about circling back to the original Power world and that complicated dynamic with Tariq?—
Derek Lawrence,
Vulture,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The one who interests me most is midfielder Ruben Neves.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2026
-
That always interests me in terms of fun facts or conversation starters for Karen Wheeler.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
26 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obsesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsesses. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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