Synonyms of obsessive

obsessive

adjective

äb-ˈse-siv 

as in impulsive

caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge

intrigued by the man's obsessive counting of everyday objects

Synonyms & Similar Words

• impulsive
• compulsive
• obsessional
• driven
• spontaneous
• automatic
• instinctive
• uncontrollable
• besetting
• irrepressible
• mechanical
• reflex
• unpredictable
• unconscious
• unthinking
• whimsical
• knee-jerk
• involuntary
• conditioned
• capricious
• unwitting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wilful
• voluntary
• willful
• manageable
• controllable
• unforced
• resistible

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of obsessive

Plus, every episode welcomed obsessive theorizing by unfolding via two timelines: The first, set in the late 1990s, followed the characters’ struggle for survival. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2025

Like most Asus software, these are interlinked apps filled with occasionally useful shortcuts, obsessive tweaks to little things, and roughly 34 points that all want your eye focus at once. —Ars Technica, 18 Feb. 2025

For those unfamiliar with the Richard Linklater trilogy, the characters end up playing out their star signs perfectly: Scorpio (Jesse) is loyal to a fault, intensely romantic, dramatic, and even obsessive. —Erika W. Smith, Vogue, 11 Feb. 2025

Addiction and obsessive behavior are other targets of microdosers, as the drugs seem to tame cravings for more than just food. —Beth Landman, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Feb. 2025