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
Feeling increasingly isolated, Wu began to spiral into a deep depression and show signs of obsessive behavior, the filing said.
—
Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
The Residence starred Uzo Aduba as quirky detective Cordelia Cupp, who uses her cunning intellect and obsessive bird-watching abilities to crack otherwise unsolvable cases.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 2 July 2025
In a saturated mid-market bracket, Hampton’s leadership has managed to differentiate the brand through an obsessive drive to understand customers.
—Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
And some are just for the most obsessive Fabs scholars.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
The Residence starred Uzo Aduba as quirky detective Cordelia Cupp, who uses her cunning intellect and obsessive bird-watching abilities to crack otherwise unsolvable cases.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 2 July 2025
In a saturated mid-market bracket, Hampton’s leadership has managed to differentiate the brand through an obsessive drive to understand customers.
—Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
And some are just for the most obsessive Fabs scholars.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsessive
Adjective
-
Outfits that once felt aspirational quickly become irrelevant, leaving behind a cycle of impulsive purchases, lukewarm satisfaction, and the constant itch for reinvention.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Essence,
8 July 2025
-
Back in 1937, Winfield James, Harry Caldwell and Jimmy Pickard — three impulsive teens from Abilene, just out of high school and trying to avoid summer jobs — paddled a small canoe some 660 miles down the Colorado from Ballinger, Texas, to the Gulf of Mexico.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
These systems are built on compulsive design, emotional triggers and algorithmic reinforcement.—
Mira Tzur,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
Interestingly, when their microbiota samples were then transferred into the guts of healthy mice, these animals also developed the same compulsive eating behaviors.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obsessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsessive. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share