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

Derived Forms

• comˈpulsiveness, noun
• comˈpulsively, adverb

Other Words From

• com·pulsive·ly adverb
• com·pulsive·ness com·pul·siv·i·ty [k, uh, m-puhl-, siv, -i-tee, kom-puhl-], noun
• noncom·pulsive adjective
• noncom·pulsive·ly adverb
• quasi-com·pulsive adjective
• quasi-com·pulsive·ly adverb
• uncom·pulsive adjective
• uncom·pulsive·ly 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

Young Russian conductor Timur Zangiev barreled through Prokoviev’s restless score with compulsive and relentlessness virtuosity.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s difficult to imagine a compulsive liar with dozens of sexual assault allegations against him being hired by any legitimate business.

From Salon

This may seem like a lot of projects for one 37-year-old, who calls them “acts of compulsive nerdiness.”

From Los Angeles Times

"TikTok knows that compulsive use of and other harmful effects of its platform are wreaking havoc on the mental health of millions of American children and teenagers," said the lawsuit filed in New York on Tuesday.

From BBC

“Let us abandon the compulsive idea that we absolutely must reunify.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• enthusiastic
• irresistible
• passionate
• uncontrollable