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
The filmmakers’ decision to let this smart, obsessive group of people expound on their favorite topic at length was the right one — the effect is like spending a rainy afternoon in a comfy chair in front of a fire, eavesdropping on some quality conversations.
—
Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 May 2026
Lynn’s own account of the effect his obsessive qualities have on others is difficult to improve on.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
He will be remembered as a true genius, a wild, intense, football-obsessive.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Then the studio’s marketing department built on the buzz through cryptic billboards across Los Angeles and New York, featuring Nikki’s increasingly unsettling and obsessive texts, voice notes and deliveries, alongside a phone number inviting them to reach out.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 27 May 2026
Lynn’s own account of the effect his obsessive qualities have on others is difficult to improve on.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
He will be remembered as a true genius, a wild, intense, football-obsessive.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Then the studio’s marketing department built on the buzz through cryptic billboards across Los Angeles and New York, featuring Nikki’s increasingly unsettling and obsessive texts, voice notes and deliveries, alongside a phone number inviting them to reach out.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsessive
Adjective
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This skill prevents reactive leadership, builds trust and enables thoughtful responses rather than impulsive reactions that can damage relationships and morale.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2026
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The attacks were rarely sudden or impulsive.—
Michael Brunker,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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Nilsson admits to suffering from horror vacui—a fear of empty space, which in her case reads less like a neurotic affliction than like compulsive conviviality.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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Platforms will be required to introduce safety-by-design features, including protections against manipulative design that encourages compulsive use, and take action against underage accounts and harmful content.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 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 5 Jun. 2026.
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