compulsive

American  

[kuhm-puhl-siv] / kəmˈpʌl sɪv /

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 British  

/ 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

Etymology

Origin of compulsive

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

Example Sentences

The character, a compulsive talker whose social manner is as subtle as a leaf blower, poses a tremendous acting challenge, being as intensely annoying as she is mysteriously alluring.

From Los Angeles Times

News of the severity of his injury was exacerbated by obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms, and he described being in hospital as "unbearable".

From BBC

Recordings showed that the medication reduced activity in the brain's reward center, a region linked to food noise and compulsive cravings, although this reduction did not last.

From Science Daily

Below, the actor from Arkansas, 70, talks about being a mouthpiece for Sheridan, smoking on the job and how his dyslexia and obsessive compulsive disorder influence the way he memorizes lines.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• enthusiastic
• irresistible
• passionate
• uncontrollable