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 Unfortunately, my fall wish list keeps ballooning with a new fall coat obsession, courtesy of Walsh. — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026 What begins as simple admiration and a desire to support the campaign turns into a consuming obsession. — Carole Horst, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026 The distressed, vintage Elvira tee and oversized, brown leather jacket are spot-on grunge, the super-short lace shorts recall the babydoll vibes of the time, and the white knee-high boots nail the era's obsession with retro mod looks. — Marci Robin, Allure, 23 Sep. 2026 But Apple has found itself in a strong position for AI desktops thanks in part to a longstanding obsession with saving power. — Stephen Nellis, USA Today, 22 Sep. 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
  • Maybe that’s because these challenging and seemingly intractable problems are usually treated as separate crises requiring separate solutions.
    — Stanley McChrystal, STAT, 29 Sep. 2026
  • No, the problem is not the lack of a good economic case or even the lack of investment.
    — Stephanie Walton, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of problem
Noun
  • Key leadership reshuffle The black box of China’s elite politics has long been a source of fascination for journalists, scholars and foreign governments alike.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
  • That visceral response reflects a lifelong fascination with music as a physical experience.
    — Ben Croll, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of fascination
Noun
  • Advertisement America’s preoccupation with the war on terror did squander its unipolar decade.
    — Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Fretting about the future is a favorite preoccupation of the conscientious.
    — Joe Fassler, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of preoccupation
Noun
  • Each loving gesture and bashful smile from his aspiring girlfriend Nikki is punctuated by dread, every minute tense and unnerving as her fixation slowly takes a dark turn.
    — Mariam Bagdady, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Jennifer Lopez anticipated Milan’s fixation before the shows were properly underway.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 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 Mayo Clinic defines the mental health condition as typically marked by hallucinations, delusions, depression, and mania.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The 57-year-old star kept the animal print mania going with her pointed-toe fuzzy leopard print slingback heels and held a microscopic black patent leather bag in one hand.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of mania
Noun
  • Spending has been helped by a strong stock market, which reflects enthusiasm over the prospects for artificial intelligence and which enriches wealthy investors and gives them more money to buy things with.
    — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • That level of enthusiasm underscores the power of personal agents and the promise that consumers and office workers will be able to use the technology to book travel, pay bills, respond to emails and perform many more tasks.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 30 Sep. 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 3 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about obsession

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