obsessive
adjective
ob·ses·sive äb-ˈse-siv 
əb-
1
a
: tending to cause obsession
b
: excessive often to an unreasonable degree
an obsessive interest
2
: of, relating to, or characterized by obsession : deriving from obsession
obsessive noun
obsessively adverb
obsessiveness noun
Examples of obsessive in a Sentence
Many dancers are obsessive about their weight. He is an obsessive workaholic who never stops thinking about his job. an obsessive interest in space travel The new therapy is supposed to help people control their obsessive thoughts.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jess Scheer, the CEO of The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), says there’s a strong association between obsessive tracking and disordered eating and eating disorders. —
Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 24 Apr. 2026 Gadd adapted his one-man show about his experience with an obsessive fan for the Emmy-winning series set up at the streamer — which is now in litigation with Fiona Muir-Harvey, who claims to be the inspiration behind Jessica Gunning’s stalker character. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026 What had once seemed extreme or obsessive now felt socially acceptable. —Eli Thompson, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026 When the film opens, on April 24th, Jackson’s obsessive fans will have a chance to render their own verdict, and so will what remains of the moviegoing public. —Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 24 Apr. 2026 Gadd adapted his one-man show about his experience with an obsessive fan for the Emmy-winning series set up at the streamer — which is now in litigation with Fiona Muir-Harvey, who claims to be the inspiration behind Jessica Gunning’s stalker character. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Apr. 2026 What had once seemed extreme or obsessive now felt socially acceptable. —Eli Thompson, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026 When the film opens, on April 24th, Jackson’s obsessive fans will have a chance to render their own verdict, and so will what remains of the moviegoing public. —Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obsessive
Cite this Entry
“Obsessive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/obsessive. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obsessive
adjective
ob·ses·sive äb-ˈses-iv
əb-
: of, relating to, having, or being an obsession
obsessively adverb
Medical Definition
obsessive
1 of 2 adjective
ob·ses·sive äb-ˈses-iv, əb-
: of, relating to, causing, or characterized by obsession : deriving from obsession
obsessive behavior
obsessively adverb
obsessiveness noun
obsessive
2 of 2 noun
: an obsessive individual
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