obsess

[ uhb-ses ]

verb (used with object)

1. to dominate or preoccupy the thoughts, feelings, or desires of (a person); beset, trouble, or haunt persistently or abnormally:

   Suspicion obsessed him.

   Synonyms: haunt, control, possess

verb (used without object)

1. to think about something unceasingly or persistently; dwell obsessively upon something.

obsess

/ əbˈsɛs /

verb

1. tr; when passive, foll by with or by to preoccupy completely; haunt
2. intr; usually foll by on or over to worry neurotically or obsessively; brood

Other Words From

• ob·sessing·ly adverb
• ob·sessor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of obsess¹

1495–1505; < Latin obsessus, past participle of obsidēre to occupy, frequent, besiege, equivalent to ob- ob- + -sid ( ēre ) combining form of sedēre to sit ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of obsess¹

C16: from Latin obsessus besieged, past participle of obsidēre, from ob- in front of + sedēre to sit

Example Sentences

The forms of power that art creates, and the ones it so often leaves us without, confound and obsess me.

From Salon

With the coming election looking even tighter in the polls than the last two, the parties and the country have reason to obsess over tens or hundreds of votes in the swing states that will pick the next president.

From Los Angeles Times

Rather than focus on brute force, they obsess over the physics of lateral velocity, rotational radius and acceleration paths.

From Los Angeles Times

“The media can obsess over it all they want, but he’s not going to back down when it comes to advocating for policies that protect parental rights and encourage people to have more kids,” Kirk added.

From Salon

Some families ignore their relative’s decline; some families obsess over it.

From Salon

Related Words

• beset
• consume
• dominate
• engross
• grip
• harass
• haunt
• infatuate
• torment