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

/ əbˈsɛsɪv /

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

noun

1. psychiatry a person subject to obsession

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

Other Word Forms

• obsessively adverb
• obsessiveness noun
• nonobsessive adjective
• nonobsessively adverb
• nonobsessiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of obsessive¹

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

Example Sentences

The American family reeled as children dwindled into crouched obsessives, scrolling and snapping and cultivating likes.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The masked murderer and obsessive stalker who haunted New York City for more than 35 years is back.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Martin’s collaborators say he’s just as obsessive, willing to “stay up literally for three days just to get a drum sound right,” according to Martin Dodd, an A&R executive who worked with the producer.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

His penchant for long sentences and few paragraph breaks have also seen the writer labelled as "obsessive".

Read more on Barron's

“Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, an obsessive player of the game herself, serves as the emcee in the TV version.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bigoted 
• dogmatic 
• enthusiastic 
• fervent 
• frenzied 
• impassioned 
• narrow-minded 
• passionate 
• rabid 
• single-minded 
• stubborn 
• violent 
• zealous