obsessive

adjective

ob·​ses·​sive äb-ˈse-siv How to pronounce obsessive (audio)
əb-
1
a
: tending to cause obsession
b
: excessive often to an unreasonable degree
2
: of, relating to, or characterized by obsession : deriving from obsession
obsessive noun
obsessively adverb
obsessiveness noun

Examples of obsessive in a Sentence

Many dancers are obsessive about their weight. He is an obsessive workaholic who never stops thinking about his job. an obsessive interest in space travel The new therapy is supposed to help people control their obsessive thoughts.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The project takes its toll Christiansen is the first to admit that receiving that lesson from Erebus triggered his most obsessive qualities. Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2025 Defense attorneys argued that all of this happened because the whole family suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder, 9News reported. Kc Baker, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is meant to evoke images captured by a movie camera from the early 1980s; a small strip of celluloid, exposed to light and shadow, is simulated with obsessive granularity and rendered by a powerful computer. Yussef Cole, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025 It’s all covered in obsessive detail in the upcoming anniversary doc, Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music, one of a barrage of specials and look-backs celebrating the pioneering sketch show’s storied history. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for obsessive 

Word History

Etymology

obsess + -ive

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of obsessive was in 1897

Dictionary Entries Near obsessive

Cite this Entry

“Obsessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obsessive. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

obsessive

adjective
ob·​ses·​sive äb-ˈses-iv How to pronounce obsessive (audio)
əb-
: of, relating to, having, or being an obsession
obsessively adverb

Medical Definition

obsessive

1 of 2 adjective
ob·​ses·​sive äb-ˈses-iv, əb- How to pronounce obsessive (audio)
: of, relating to, causing, or characterized by obsession : deriving from obsession
obsessive behavior
obsessively adverb
obsessiveness noun

obsessive

2 of 2 noun
: an obsessive individual

More from Merriam-Webster on obsessive

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