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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obsessive
Back then, most of her wardrobe consisted of hand-me-downs from her sister, Alice, a vintage obsessive, and pieces handmade by her mother, a seamstress talented enough to make her own wedding dress.
—
Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2026
And Camille, in turn, finds a new lease on life, basking in the glow of Olivier's obsessive admiration.
—Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026
Their designers are a bunch of obsessive geeks, in the best way possible, who take pride in producing designs no one else can touch.
—Jakob Schiller, Outside, 16 Feb. 2026
Durant, forever the hoops obsessive, simply sees the All-Star Game in a different light.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2026
And Camille, in turn, finds a new lease on life, basking in the glow of Olivier's obsessive admiration.
—Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026
Their designers are a bunch of obsessive geeks, in the best way possible, who take pride in producing designs no one else can touch.
—Jakob Schiller, Outside, 16 Feb. 2026
Durant, forever the hoops obsessive, simply sees the All-Star Game in a different light.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsessive
Adjective
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Just Friends By Haley Pham Blair and Declan were once inseparable best friends whose brief, impulsive romance ended in heartbreak and silence after one shattering moment.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
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After getting two appointments right (Steve Cooper and Nuno Espirito Santo), Marinakis has reverted to type, with impulsive and erratic decision-making having undermined Forest’s campaign from the start.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Brent, by contrast, is a magnetic and enigmatic force — brilliant, elusive, and driven by an almost compulsive need to run toward danger.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2026
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In the preliminary findings of an ongoing investigation into the social media app, the commission has declared that TikTok’s compulsive design may put it in breach of the Digital Services Act.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
27 Feb. 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 6 Mar. 2026.
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