OCD

abbreviation or noun

ˌō-ˌsē-'dē 

: a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions or compulsions or both that cause significant distress, are time-consuming, and interfere with normal daily functioning : obsessive-compulsive disorder

The subjects of the experiment were 18 people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)—unwanted and pointless but irresistible intrusive thoughts (e.g., fear of contamination by germs) and repetitive actions (e.g., handwashing or change-counting).

—The Harvard Medical School Mental Health Letter

OCD is a mental health condition that "involves both obsessions and compulsions that take up a lot of time and get in the way of important activities, such as school, family life, extracurricular activities, developing friendships, and self-care," according to the International OCD Foundation.

—Sarah D. Collins

Examples of OCD in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an unending battle for Luke Combs. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2025

There are little signs of OCD, drinking, sleeping pills, those moments where everything feels out of control and that’s something so many teens go through. —Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025

Questionnaires used for anxiety, ADHD, depression, and OCD could indicate that someone possesses some characteristics of maladaptive daydreaming. —Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 7 Aug. 2025

Her memoir My Good Side —which includes revelations about her experience with OCD, her husband Brock Davies cheating on her while pregnant, and her own reflections on past relationships—reveals a woman who’s no longer hiding behind party life or tabloid headlines. —Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 4 Aug. 2025

Medical Definition

OCD

abbreviation or noun

ˌō-ˌsē-ˈdē 

: a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions or compulsions or both that cause significant distress, are time-consuming, and interfere with normal daily functioning : obsessive-compulsive disorder

Childhood and adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorders are sometimes seen in dermatology practice. When present, OCD is most frequently manifested in younger patients as trichotillomania …

—J. Y. Koo and L. L. Smith, Pediatric Dermatology

… drugs such as Prozac help relieve the symptoms of OCD, but 90 percent of medicated patients relapse when the drugs are withdrawn. More effective is behavioral therapy, which has a cure rate of up to 80 percent.

—Josie Glausiusz, Discover