compulsive
adjective
com·pul·sive
kəm-ˈpəl-siv 
1
: having power to compel
forced to resort to compulsive measures
2
: of, relating to, caused by, or suggestive of psychological compulsion or obsession
compulsive actions
a compulsive gambler
compulsive eating
Examples of compulsive in a Sentence
his compulsive clowning around can sometimes be annoying
Recent Examples on the Web
But if the humor doesn’t land as solidly as before, the more serious subplots, centered on Mo’s feelings of disconnection from his roots and Yusra’s compulsive doomscrolling about violence in her native Palestine, carry the show.
—
Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2025
Like the compulsive twisting of a pencil into a sharpener, Khatami tightens the narrative rope to excruciating effect with a series of ominous foreshadowings.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2025
There's a young friend who’s like a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker and the most uppity girl in town.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025
The gambling industry is aware of the problem of compulsive gambling habits.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for compulsive 
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Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2025
Like the compulsive twisting of a pencil into a sharpener, Khatami tightens the narrative rope to excruciating effect with a series of ominous foreshadowings.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2025
There's a young friend who’s like a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker and the most uppity girl in town.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025
The gambling industry is aware of the problem of compulsive gambling habits.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for compulsive
Dictionary Entries Near compulsive
Cite this Entry
“Compulsive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compulsive. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
compulsive
adjective
com·pul·sive
kəm-ˈpəl-siv
: caused by or subject to an irresistible urge
compulsive behavior
compulsively
adverb
Medical Definition
compulsive
1 of 2 adjective
com·pul·sive
-ˈpəl-siv
: of, relating to, caused by, or suggestive of psychological compulsion or obsession
repetitive and compulsive behavior
compulsive hoarding
a compulsive gambler
compulsively
adverb
compulsiveness
noun
compulsivity
noun
plural compulsivities
Prozac, which increases the amount of serotonin sloshing around brain circuits, seems to reduce the compulsivity of autism.
—Karen Springen, Newsweek
Karen Springen, Newsweek
compulsive
2 of 2 noun
: one who is subject to a psychological compulsion
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