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View synonyms for

obsessive

[uhb-ses-iv]

adjective

  1. being, pertaining to, or resembling an obsession.

    an obsessive fear of illness.

  2. causing an obsession.

  3. excessive, especially extremely so.



noun

  1. someone who has an obsession or obsessions; a person who thinks or behaves in an obsessive manner.

obsessive

/ əˈɛɪ /

adjective

  1. psychiatry motivated by a persistent overriding idea or impulse, often associated with anxiety and mental illness

  2. continually preoccupied with a particular activity, person, or thing

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. psychiatry a person subject to obsession

  2. a person who is continually preoccupied with a particular activity, person, or thing

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • obsessively adverb
  • obsessiveness noun
  • nonobsessive adjective
  • nonobsessively adverb
  • nonobsessiveness noun
  • DzˈԱ noun
  • Dzˈ adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of obsessive1

First recorded in 1910–15; obsess(ion) + -ive
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"I'm quite obsessive anyway, so I got into trying to reverse engineer what had happened."

From

It was a sincere, slightly obsessive, utterly charming ode to the art of preserving.

From

Enrique is obsessive about PSG and his own self-discipline down to the finest details, with his watch even alerting him if he has not carried out any stretching or movement for 30 minutes.

From

It’s a credit to Soller’s performance that I could also have so much empathy for such an obsessive and off-putting milquetoast.”

From

This form of therapy is most commonly used for anxiety and depression, but can also help with a range of other problems, including body image dysmorphia, obsessive compulsive disorder and post traumatic stress disorder.

From

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obsessionobsessive-compulsive