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 title may have the tang of a prog-rock album, but the book is witty, minutely detailed, and braced by common sense—a welcome gift in an often obsessive environment.
—
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
This is a story about two young people who find each other, fall madly in love, and are then torn apart by unimaginable disaster — one rendered by the obsessive director in minute, breathless, excruciating detail.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
But persistent or obsessive licking of furniture, desks, or pillows can sometimes signal an underlying issue.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
All told, City Limits is an exercise in obsessive passion and the meticulous pursuit of quality.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
This is a story about two young people who find each other, fall madly in love, and are then torn apart by unimaginable disaster — one rendered by the obsessive director in minute, breathless, excruciating detail.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
But persistent or obsessive licking of furniture, desks, or pillows can sometimes signal an underlying issue.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
All told, City Limits is an exercise in obsessive passion and the meticulous pursuit of quality.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsessive
Adjective
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Stewart-Allen believes Disney’s actions with Kimmel were impulsive.—
Natasha Chen,
CNN Money,
25 Sep. 2025
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Susannah was a kindhearted but sometimes impulsive woman.—
Sarah John,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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To identify workaholics, the researchers used established psychological surveys that measure both excessive and compulsive working tendencies.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
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These states often trigger compulsive scrolling or posting, not because of the content itself, but because of the emotional tension underneath.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obsessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsessive. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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