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compulsive definition

com·pul·sive (-siv)

adjective

of, having to do with, or resulting from compulsion

Etymology: ML compulsivus

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical compulsive definition - medical

compulsive Synonyms

compulsive

modif.

  1. Compelling

    driving, impelling, besetting, urgent; see necessary 1, urgent 1.

  2. Obsessive

    addicted, driven, obsessive-compulsive, overscrupulous; see addicted, careful, enthusiastic 2, habitual 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

compulsive Usage Examples

Preposition: as

  • phantasising: The romanticizing of sorrow is just as compulsive as the phantasising on forbidden themes during the stage of catharsis.

Adjective modifier

  • adrenaline-fueled: Had Rounders picked up impish grinnolan is is it to the adrenaline-fueled compulsives.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • find: And if you find the telly version compulsive, the game should set your adrenaline pumping too.

Modifies a noun

  • gambler: My father has been a compulsive gambler for my whole life.

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: We need people, possessions and something to do, in an almost compulsive way.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: Cleaning, washing and ironing are things she became compulsive with.
compulsive usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"compulsive." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/compulsive>

APA Style

compulsive. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/compulsive

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