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

Antidepressants can be life-saving for people struggling with depression, OCD, anxiety and other mental health conditions when alternative treatments like talk therapy aren’t working. —Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025

In the end-of-week preview, Joey is telling Monica about his OCD, which appears to be new information to her. —Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025

For additional resources and information on hoarding disorder, visit the International OCD Foundation website. —Mary E. Dozier, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2025

He was fascinated by the idea, specifically of how that euphoria could manage the thoughts and symptoms of his OCD. —William Earl, Variety, 28 Jan. 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drugs such as Prozac help relieve the symptoms of OCD, but 90 percent of medicated patients relapse when the drugs are withdrawn.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