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 chef, Travis Lett, was obsessive about nearly everything—produce, sourcing, seasonality, herbs, spices, the chewiness of a hunk of sourdough or a pizza crust—and this obsessiveness resulted in a restaurant that was more or less flawless.
—
Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2025
According to those close to Selena, Saldívar began to show obsessive behavior.
—Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Anxiety and depression: The fixation on having the perfect body can cause significant stress, leading to obsessive thoughts and constant worry over working out and food intake.
—Alex Vance, Parents, 24 Mar. 2025
Franny’s devoted to careful, even obsessive statistical reporting on each new set of innings.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2025
According to those close to Selena, Saldívar began to show obsessive behavior.
—Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Anxiety and depression: The fixation on having the perfect body can cause significant stress, leading to obsessive thoughts and constant worry over working out and food intake.
—Alex Vance, Parents, 24 Mar. 2025
Franny’s devoted to careful, even obsessive statistical reporting on each new set of innings.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsessive
Adjective
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Research shows that suicide tends to be a fairly impulsive act during short-term crises.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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Research shows that those who score higher in emotional intelligence are less impulsive and better able to persist through difficult tasks.—
Kevin Kruse,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Count My Lies centers on compulsive liar Sloane Caraway, who bluffs her way into a job as a nanny for a gorgeous and charismatic couple, Violet and Jay Lockhart.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2025
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The film explores the intersection of artistic expression, mental health and family dynamics through the story of social media sensation Sam Cox, whose compulsive doodling transformed his home into a black and white masterpiece that captured the public’s imagination.—
Gus Alexiou,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obsessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsessive. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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