obsession

noun

äb-ˈse-shən How to pronounce obsession (audio)
Definition of obsessionnext
as in problem
something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned her latest obsession is a movie star who she thinks is very handsome

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obsession So their obsession with political theater disguised as power drives them to try to destroy their opponents. — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2026 Blending psychological suspense with the hypnotic energy of electronic music culture, the film explores the darker side of obsession, identity and the intoxicating allure of fame. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2026 Written by Zac Stanford (Sleepwalking), from a story by Schwartzman and Stanford, Portrait explores the terrifying intersection of grief, obsession and the supernatural, as a couple’s dream of a new beginning descends into paranoia and violence. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026 Asked by Allen why Beethoven remains such an obsession, Blomstedt pointed to the humanity in the composer's music. — Tom Huizenga, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obsession
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsession
  1. problem
  2. fascination
  3. preoccupation
  4. fixation
  5. fetish
  6. mania
  7. enthusiasm
Noun
  • There’s also evidence supporting some non-drug treatments for hot flashes, night sweats and sleep or mood problems, ACOG said.
    — Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The infrastructure addresses a problem that emerged as Codex accelerated software development.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of problem
Noun
  • An old fascination can still have something new to teach you.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Your next fascination could start surprisingly close to home.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of fascination
Noun
  • That preoccupation may mean the child has a more difficult time listening to their fullness cues when presented with those foods.
    — Bryn Beeder, The Conversation, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Time is one of Butler’s preoccupations—its fleeting nature, its nonlinear experience, its rubberbanding effect on our perception.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of preoccupation
Noun
  • The character is not above asking inappropriate questions like how much an expensive shirt costs, signaling a sort of vulgar fixation on money.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2026
  • But this little episode does provide another reason to question the usefulness of Google’s fixation on AI as a web-search interface.
    — Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of fixation
Noun
  • Conahan, now 72, acknowledged having a bondage fetish in court but has always denied killing anyone.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, we’re presented with deviant men defined only by their fetishes, creating an uneasy imbalance that’s impossible to ignore.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of fetish
Noun
  • The decade has cemented its place as one of fashion’s most influential periods; see Love Story mania, the Tate’s current ’90s exhibition in the UK, and the next Met Gala theme.
    — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 6 Nov. 2026
  • This new film falls somewhere between those two in terms of full metal McDonagh-mania.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of mania
Noun
  • Jim warned Wednesday that Wall Street's enthusiasm following the midterm elections could prove short-lived.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
  • But Paxton and Abbott both lost, suggesting Musk's money wasn't enough to overcome a wave of enthusiasm that saw Democrats capture every statewide office in Texas.
    — Katie McQue, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of enthusiasm

Browse Nearby Words

obsessing (over)
obsession
obsessional
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Obsession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsession. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about obsession

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