OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE Synonyms: 105 Similar and Opposite Words

obsessive-compulsive

adjective

as in neurotic

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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-compulsive Decker says she was diagnosed with postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder and psychosis and found help at The Motherhood Space in Jacksonville, Florida – a program that treats mood and anxiety disorders during and after pregnancy. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 This anxiety can also happen with obsessive-compulsive disorder. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 Eating disorders are somewhat like obsessive-compulsive disorder or substance use disorder and involve brain circuits that are very resistant to intervention, Hellerstein says. — Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2026 In 2018, their son, Alan Hu, was receiving medical care for depression and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. — Sharon Chin, CBS News, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for obsessive-compulsive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsessive-compulsive

Adjective

Part of what fueled the ups and downs was the sense that Paul Baker is genially open to whatever life might throw at him — a personality type engineered to drive the acting-out Issa and the neurotic Anton to distraction.

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
He is admittedly relieved that Skarsgård was able to bring alive Bill’s gentle, yet neurotic nature.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of neurotic

Adjective

The bald guy lecturing me on how to get the money looked real enough, but the question of his true being kept rattling around my increasingly paranoid mind.

— Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026
Hill became increasingly paranoid and developed delusions that she was being surveilled.

— Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of paranoid

Adjective

The artist adopts a schizoid persona, with multiple voices flowing out of him, and swerves between lucid social criticism—about the history of slavery or of higher education—and total gibberish.

— Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
The idea of a schizoid Lady M is not entirely without appeal, but despite strong performances across the board, the work runs aground fast.

— Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024

Definition of schizoid

Adjective

Bossy’s direction raises the clamorous volume instead of sorting out the disordered structure or digging into the unexamined silences.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
About 6% of women across all age groups live with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, and that figure climbs to 20% or higher after menopause, according to research on sleep-disordered breathing.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of disordered

Adjective

The manuscript Wayne read to us that night chronicled his involvement with Gloria Swanson, the towering star of Hollywood’s Golden Age who enjoyed latter-day acclaim in 1950 playing a delusional has-been in Sunset Boulevard.

— Mike Hogan, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026
O’Donnell’s characters are usually fresh out of divorces and staying afloat on waves of delusional self-confidence and optimism.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of delusional

Adjective

The sets have too many doors, the scenes have a delirious number of extras and the actors yell their lines over the distracting clatter of crackling fireplaces, beeping machines and ticking clocks.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Similarly, Zo — seen recently as the monster hunter in Na Hong-jin’s delirious sci-fi action epic, Hope — stays for most of the running time just the right side of smug entitlement.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of delirious

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obsessive

obsessive-compulsive

obsess (over)

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“Obsessive-compulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsessive-compulsive. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of obsessive-compulsive

adjective

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