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
Inspired by the notorious Parker-Hulme murder case, the film examines the dangerously obsessive friendship between two teenage girls — Winslet as Juliet Hulme and Melanie Lynskey, also in her film debut, as Pauline Parker — which culminates in the premeditated murder of Parker's mother.
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Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
If Wuthering Heights wasn’t on your English class syllabus, expect an obsessive, haunting love story that portrays the extremes of desire.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
For some with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), they may be distressed by the prospect of germs or how foods are prepared.
—Dr. Ellen S. Rome, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
It was established in 1923 by founder Shinjiro Torii as the first venue dedicated to crafting Japanese whisky with the obsessive attention to detail that has made the spirit beloved worldwide.
—Liz Provencher, Travel + Leisure, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Dec. 2025
If Wuthering Heights wasn’t on your English class syllabus, expect an obsessive, haunting love story that portrays the extremes of desire.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
For some with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), they may be distressed by the prospect of germs or how foods are prepared.
—Dr. Ellen S. Rome, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025
It was established in 1923 by founder Shinjiro Torii as the first venue dedicated to crafting Japanese whisky with the obsessive attention to detail that has made the spirit beloved worldwide.
—Liz Provencher, Travel + Leisure, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsessive
Adjective
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Instead of impulsive moves, energy goes toward goals that require patience and endurance.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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That fear can contribute to impulsive decisions, overtrading, and emotional fatigue - outcomes sometimes interpreted as personal failure rather than a response to the way risk is structured.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In the past, Mia had suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder and intrusive, distressing thoughts.—
Katie Whyatt,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
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His legal team wrote in a filing ahead of the hearing that Cole had been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 1, and obsessive compulsive disorder.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obsessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsessive. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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