as in impulsive
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge
intrigued by the man's obsessive counting of everyday objects
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Recent Examples of obsessive
According to those close to Selena, Saldívar began to show obsessive behavior.
—
Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
Seimetz portrays Paula, the obsessive matriarch grudgingly raising Agnes (Chase Infiniti), which is the Gilead name for Hannah, the now-teenaged daughter of Handmaid’s protagonist June (Elisabeth Moss).
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
Felder, an architect with an obsessive streak, thought extensively about the design of his banner, ultimately opting for a white sign with lettering the precise shade of blue as the Star of David on the Israeli flag.
—Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
What about a former Directioner superfan to freak out Niall Horan with their obsessive knowledge?
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
Seimetz portrays Paula, the obsessive matriarch grudgingly raising Agnes (Chase Infiniti), which is the Gilead name for Hannah, the now-teenaged daughter of Handmaid’s protagonist June (Elisabeth Moss).
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
Felder, an architect with an obsessive streak, thought extensively about the design of his banner, ultimately opting for a white sign with lettering the precise shade of blue as the Star of David on the Israeli flag.
—Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
What about a former Directioner superfan to freak out Niall Horan with their obsessive knowledge?
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsessive
Adjective
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Symptoms include short-term memory loss, anxiety, and impulsive behaviour.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Soon after, Mercury will collide with Mars, increasing the likelihood of heated debates and impulsive reactions.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Viewers follow this meagre trail methodically, greedily, with heads down, driven by compulsive curiosity.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2026
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The suit argues that the gambling apps are designed to encourage compulsive use, including by targeting users with personalized bonuses and urging them to keep betting.—
Shannon Bond,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But obsessional online culture has sought to answer questions of origin rather than waving them off.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obsessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsessive. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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