as in obsessive
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge
had an obsessional need to be liked by everybody
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 obsessional
But obsessional online culture has sought to answer questions of origin rather than waving them off.
—
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsessional
Adjective
-
Nathan Lane, who famously played an obsessive Maria Callas fan in Terrence McNally’s play The Lisbon Traviata, had some harsh words for the opera- and ballet-bashing Timothée Chalamet on today’s The View.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Beef first premiered on Netflix in 2023, with Ali Wong and Steven Yeun leading the cast of season 1, which centered around two people who lock into an obsessive feud after a road-rage incident throws them into each other’s paths.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But the relief of not having to wait for surgery mixed with the shock of the moment made Giese and her husband impulsive.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The American president appears to have no clear end game for his war against Iran, and his seemingly impulsive use of military force may in fact enhance Xi’s call for a more balanced, pragmatic global order.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obsessional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsessional. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
