as in attracting
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 obsessing
While so many figure skating enthusiasts are going to be obsessing over yesterday, here’s Max Naumov, looking to tomorrow.
—
Steve Buckley, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
What’s more, in athletes, typical signs of an eating disorder, such as training for long hours without appropriate breaks for meals or obsessing about only consuming certain healthy foods, can be overlooked due to the normalization of these behaviors in high-level sports.
—Emily Hemendinger, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2026
However, a teenager might simply identify sentences and structure, but after several years of living, loving and obsessing over someone with tousled hair, that now-adult might find their experiences affirmed, perhaps even blatantly, through a 178-year-old novel.
—Hannah Benson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
No point obsessing on it, anyway.
—Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
Bradley is largely concerned with perfecting his golf game; Linda spends her off hours obsessing over the TV show Survivor.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
Likewise, Shaid Shah, one of the most senior execs at Mars—the powerhouse behind household brands like Dolmio—said the best career hack is to stop obsessing over getting that promotion or dream job title, and embrace the many steps in between that get you there.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026
The mornings are frosty and flannels are back in rotation, which means skiers are pulling their gear out of storage and obsessing over ski pass options.
—Evie Carrick, Outside, 8 Jan. 2026
While hitting such a peak in the band’s career, Montenegro started obsessing over the future.
—Leonor C. Suárez, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2026
Steve Buckley, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
What’s more, in athletes, typical signs of an eating disorder, such as training for long hours without appropriate breaks for meals or obsessing about only consuming certain healthy foods, can be overlooked due to the normalization of these behaviors in high-level sports.
—Emily Hemendinger, The Conversation, 13 Feb. 2026
However, a teenager might simply identify sentences and structure, but after several years of living, loving and obsessing over someone with tousled hair, that now-adult might find their experiences affirmed, perhaps even blatantly, through a 178-year-old novel.
—Hannah Benson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
No point obsessing on it, anyway.
—Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
Bradley is largely concerned with perfecting his golf game; Linda spends her off hours obsessing over the TV show Survivor.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
Likewise, Shaid Shah, one of the most senior execs at Mars—the powerhouse behind household brands like Dolmio—said the best career hack is to stop obsessing over getting that promotion or dream job title, and embrace the many steps in between that get you there.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026
The mornings are frosty and flannels are back in rotation, which means skiers are pulling their gear out of storage and obsessing over ski pass options.
—Evie Carrick, Outside, 8 Jan. 2026
While hitting such a peak in the band’s career, Montenegro started obsessing over the future.
—Leonor C. Suárez, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsessing
Verb
-
That makes attracting students and collecting tuition more difficult.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Feb. 2026
-
League-wise, Messi has sucked up a lot of the oxygen nationwide, attracting casual fans because of his global following.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The likes of Xabi Alonso, Enzo Maresca and Roberto De Zerbi are intriguing new options, but none offer the combination of experience, tactical flexibility and past silverware than Tuchel, a manager who brings solidity in and out of possession.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
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Our guide to the best upcoming sci-fi movies in 2026 features a blockbuster mix of popular franchises, intriguing one-offs, and one of the greatest directors of all time heading back to alien visitation territory.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.—
Glenn Peoples,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obsessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsessing. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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