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 deputies, obsessive fishermen, leaned in to study the lures, to see what kind of man the tackle box belonged to.
—
Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
Without Jamie Lloyd’s cameras there to do close-ups, Scherzinger played the anti-heroine just a little less for obsessive mania and more for pure Barbra-style butter.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
In 2020, during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, many people had a deeply emotional, intensely personal, and perhaps somewhat obsessive relationship with a macroscope.
—Big Think, 27 Oct. 2025
Including this gossipy memoir for the truly obsessive aesthetes.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
Without Jamie Lloyd’s cameras there to do close-ups, Scherzinger played the anti-heroine just a little less for obsessive mania and more for pure Barbra-style butter.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
In 2020, during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, many people had a deeply emotional, intensely personal, and perhaps somewhat obsessive relationship with a macroscope.
—Big Think, 27 Oct. 2025
Including this gossipy memoir for the truly obsessive aesthetes.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsessive
Adjective
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Young Luke was unfiltered and impulsive — what teenagers aren’t?—
Marissa R. Moss,
Rolling Stone,
6 Nov. 2025
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The book follows a family dynasty — and specifically, the impulsive daughter of an automotive magnate — in 1927 Motor City, which has long enthralled the Salt to the Sea author.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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This hopelessly dreary production is intent on capturing only the compulsive, joyless comedown of its main character’s kamikaze choice to blow his life up.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
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The state of Missouri will impose a 10% tax on sports betting, with the first $5 million allocated to a fund intended to help prevent compulsive gambling, according to ballot language.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obsessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsessive. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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