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habit-forming
adjective
hab·it-form·ing
ˈha-bət-ˌfȯr-miŋ
: inducing the formation of an addiction
a habit-forming drug
Examples of habit-forming in a Sentence
warned the patient to be careful, because morphine can be habit-forming
Recent Examples on the Web
Features like notifications and algorithmic feeds full of personalized content are designed to be habit-forming, and when you’re stressed or tired, people lose the ability to ignore certain impulses and control their habits, according to Wood.
—Adam Clark Estes, Vox, 1 Aug. 2024
What’s been habit-forming this summer is that several movies have been blowing away projections with big walk-up business from Latino and Hispanic moviegoers.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 23 July 2024
Operating your businesses through concealment of the truth is habit-forming for those without regard for the welfare of consumers.
—Dennis Aftergut, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2024
Some potentially habit-forming chemicals—including the two biggest killers, alcohol and tobacco—are legal to use and sell.
—Mark A. R. Kleiman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2017
The birds put on a regular show, which can be habit-forming to watch.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024
There area also wagyu dumplings with pastrami, a startling combination that could become habit-forming quickly.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2024
Although the National Institute on Drug Abuse claims that Psilocybin, the main substance found in magic mushrooms used to make mushroom candy bars, is not habit-forming, users may become tolerant towards its effects and need bigger doses to attain similar results.
—Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
And like any sleep aid, white noise machines can be habit-forming.
—Kelsey Chapman, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'habit-forming.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1913, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near habit-forming
Cite this Entry
“Habit-forming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/habit-forming. Accessed 22 Sep. 2024.
Kids Definition
habit-forming
adjective
hab·it-form·ing
ˈhab-ət-ˌfȯr-miŋ
: causing an addiction
a habit-forming drug
Medical Definition
habit-forming
adjective
hab·it-form·ing
ˈhab-ət-ˌfȯr-miŋ
: inducing the formation of an addiction
a habit-forming prescription painkiller
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