compulsive

[kuhm-puhl-siv]

adjective

1. compelling; compulsory.

2. Psychology.

   1. pertaining to, characterized by, or involving compulsion.

      a compulsive desire to cry.

   2. governed by an obsessive need to conform, be scrupulous, etc., coupled with an inability to express positive emotions.

noun

1. Psychology.,  a person whose behavior is governed by a compulsion.

compulsive

/ kəmˈpʌlsɪv /

adjective

1. relating to or involving compulsion

noun

1. psychiatry an individual who is subject to a psychological compulsion

Other Word Forms

• compulsively adverb
• compulsiveness noun
• compulsivity noun
• noncompulsive adjective
• noncompulsively adverb
• quasi-compulsive adjective
• quasi-compulsively adverb
• uncompulsive adjective
• uncompulsively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of compulsive¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; obsolete compulse, verb (from Latin compuls(us), past participle of compellere; compulsion ) + -ive

Example Sentences

Patients describe sleepless nights, compulsive news checking and physical agitation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But there’s yet another reason for his compulsive dredging up of 2020, and it has everything to do with the future, not the past.

Read more on Salon

Nick soon begins to soothe his fears and heal his trauma with the compulsive ritual of solitary fishing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Through ERP patients are helped to manage their anxiety by gradually being exposed to their fears, while preventing them from performing their usual compulsive behaviours.

Read more on BBC

The marketing method has been criticised for encouraging gambling-like behaviour and compulsive buying.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• enthusiastic 
• irresistible 
• passionate 
• uncontrollable