OBSESSIVE Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

obsessive

adjective

äb-ˈse-siv

Definition of obsessive

as in impulsive

caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge intrigued by the man's obsessive counting of everyday objects

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 obsessive Many of us know (or have experienced firsthand) this kind of controlling, jealous, obsessive behavior from a romantic partner. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026 The players responded with an almost obsessive level of focus. — Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026 His attention drifts towards intimate details – the bare armpit, the small hollow at the base of Rafael’s neck – and the music follows him into this increasingly private, almost obsessive fascination. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 Generating scholarly tomes at a rate of more than one a year involves obsessive amounts of research. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obsessive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsessive

Adjective

But last Christmas, the designer went out on an impulsive—and what would prove to be fateful—run through Paris along the Seine, the city’s famous central waterway.

— Max Berlinger, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2026
In many instances Rama approaches difficult situations with restraint and adherence to dharma (righteous conduct), whereas Lakshmana is expressive, impulsive, quick to anger, and distrustful.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of impulsive

Adjective

From toddlers to teenagers, products are engineered around instant rewards, compulsive engagement, and habit formation.

— Amy L. Kennedy, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026
Combine the iconic, confounding Rubik’s Cube puzzler with the classic, compulsive Tetris video game and the result is Spin Master’s Rubik’s Tetris.

— Richard Eisenberg, Time, 15 Oct. 2026