as in obsessive
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge
his compulsive clowning around can sometimes be annoying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples of compulsive in a Sentence
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
This is a compulsive, entertaining competition with broad appeal that will engage and galvanize the next generation of entrepreneurs.
—
K.j. Yossman, Variety, 21 Oct. 2024
What sets Joe apart, though, is his prey drive, and his compulsive capacity for learning.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 25 Sep. 2024
What shapes a compulsive collector? Lerew, who lives with his wife in Lincoln Heights, grew up in rural South Dakota.
—Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024
The lawsuit alleges TikTok claimed its platform was safe anyway and rejected design changes that would have helped reduce compulsive use.
—Steph Solis, Axios, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for compulsive 
K.j. Yossman, Variety, 21 Oct. 2024
What sets Joe apart, though, is his prey drive, and his compulsive capacity for learning.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 25 Sep. 2024
What shapes a compulsive collector? Lerew, who lives with his wife in Lincoln Heights, grew up in rural South Dakota.
—Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024
The lawsuit alleges TikTok claimed its platform was safe anyway and rejected design changes that would have helped reduce compulsive use.
—Steph Solis, Axios, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for compulsive
Thesaurus Entries Near compulsive
Cite this Entry
“Compulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsive. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share