compulsive
Americanadjective
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compelling; compulsory.
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Psychology.
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pertaining to, characterized by, or involving compulsion.
a compulsive desire to cry.
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governed by an obsessive need to conform, be scrupulous, etc., coupled with an inability to express positive emotions.
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noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of compulsive
First recorded in 1595–1605; obsolete compulse, verb (from Latin compuls(us), past participle of compellere; see compulsion) + -ive
Explanation
Compulsive people have irresistible urges to do certain things, like a compulsive gossip who simply cannot keep a secret. If you're compulsive, you can't stop yourself from doing something, like compulsive counting of the sidewalk blocks on your way to school. There is sometimes an upside to compulsive behavior — like a compulsive desire to be the best hockey player, which makes you work hard to make it happen. Someone who has compulsive tendencies can be called a compulsive, the noun form of the word.
Vocabulary lists containing compulsive
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
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Born a Crime
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The Pigman
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
People in the U.S. need to wake up and not be compulsive: Quit buying things you really don’t need.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026
"This unpredictability triggers the dopamine system, creating a compulsive cycle of seeking and anticipation," University of Leicester lecturer Quynh Hoang wrote.
From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026
Along with keeping eyes on the ground, Saar passed along her compulsive will toward creation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
At one point, however, the pressure on Nadal caused such compulsive behaviour that he sought professional psychological help.
From BBC ● May 29, 2026
“Celia trapped him into that marriage, telling him she was pregnant. I guess she was a compulsive liar even back then.”
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
