as in obsession
something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned
the future entomologist's preoccupation with insects from a very early age
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Recent Examples of preoccupation
Guojun’s abiding preoccupation, Song told me, was propagating his seed.
—
Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The invisible line Shane, 33, was a closet gambler who hid his growing preoccupation from friends and family.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
For me, that says something about my preoccupation with monsters-in-disguise and the agency of women in both uncovering and conquering violence.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Lately, the president has revisited his preoccupation with annexing Greenland in an increasingly belligerent manner.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preoccupation
Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The invisible line Shane, 33, was a closet gambler who hid his growing preoccupation from friends and family.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
For me, that says something about my preoccupation with monsters-in-disguise and the agency of women in both uncovering and conquering violence.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Lately, the president has revisited his preoccupation with annexing Greenland in an increasingly belligerent manner.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preoccupation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupation
Noun
-
This dainty top combines the polka dot craze with the sheer obsession.—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
19 Feb. 2026
-
His extreme discipline, to the point of obsession, with things like food and exercise is a frequent target, too, as is his penchant for the good life.—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This is a particular problem for Task-Ambience air conditioning (TAAC) systems.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
-
As a three-term Mecklenburg County commissioner, my daily concern is delivering common-sense solutions to our problems as efficiently as possible to keep the tax rate low.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupation. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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