compulsiveadj.n.
/kəmˈpʌlsɪv/, U.S. /kəmˈpəlsɪv/ A. adj.† 2. Caused by compulsion; compelled, forced, enforced; = compulsory adj. 1. Obsolete.
1. † b. In physical sense: Having the quality of driving or forcing onward. Obsolete. rare.
a. Having the property of compelling; exercising compulsion; coercive; = compulsory adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > [adjective]
strainable1483
compellatory?a1562
coactive1593
inforcive1596
enforcive1598
coercivea1600
constraining1602
constraintive1602
pulsive1602
compulsive1604
compulsatory1610
compellinga1616
compulsativea1616
compulsory1631
coercitive1632
coactinga1641
enforcinga1657
coercent1660
imposing1665
cogent1672
compellent1847
high-pressured1868
coercionary1884
steamroller1896
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. iv. 76 When the compulsiue ardure giues the charge. View more context for this quotation
1637 R. Humfrey tr. St. Ambrose Christian Offices Pref. Rather rhetoricall and perswasive, then logicall and compulsive.
1646 S. Bolton Arraignment of Errour 345 To make a man to put off his judgement by meer compulsive wayes.
1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives (1879) II. 827/2 The violent and compulsive measures.
1873 W. Balfour Establ. Princ. iv. 59 The power of the magistrate is compulsive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > [adjective] > impelling or driving
urgent1546
impulsive1604
compulsivea1616
impellent1620
driving1642
enormantic1651
chasing1669
commanding1680
pulsivea1687
impelling1767
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1623) iii. iii. 457 The Ponticke Sea, Whose Icie Current, and compulsiue course, Neu'r keepes retyring ebbe.
1655 N. Culpeper et al. tr. L. Rivière Pract. Physick ix. vii. 265 The natural Motion of the Stomach is Compulsive towards the Guts.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > necessity > [adjective] > absolutely compulsory
duec1400
compulsory1581
compulsive1611
unelective1666
must1912
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > [adjective] > compelled (of persons)
coactc1430
needyc1430
constrained1609
compulsive1611
obtruded1649
enforced1654
necessary1724
necessiated1727
compulsory1806
coerced1836
bulldozered1876
pressured1889
society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > [adjective] > done, produced, or obtained by compulsion
threata1400
constraintc1430
compelled1541
compulsed1541
violent?1550
extorted1552
wrested1565
coacted1570
enforced1576
forced1576
compulsory1581
commandeda1586
coactive1596
infortiate1601
extortious1602
coact1610
compulsive1611
exacted1618
necessitous1632
violented1641
necessary1655
on-forced1656
commandatorya1659
extorsive1669
compellable1677
compulsatory1748
obbligato1780
coerced1877
mandatory1891
shotgun1937
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xxi. 779/2 Duke Fredericke his compulsiue brother in Law.
1659 J. Milton Considerations touching Hirelings 33 Freed..from all compulsive tributes and taxes.
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. lix. 269 I acknowledge an involuntary compulsive assent to one very unpopular opinion.
1836 M. J. Chapman Prometheus Bound in Blackwood's Mag. 40 723 I thus am yoked to this compulsive doom.
3.
a. Psychology. Acting from, related to, or typical or suggestive of a compulsion (compulsion n. 2).
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the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > degree or type of mental illness > [adjective] > morbidly preoccupied > obsessive or compulsive
compulsive1902
anal1918
obsessive–compulsive1927
anal retentive1936
retentive1957
anally retentive1968
the mind > mental capacity > psychology > theory of psychoanalysis > libido > obsession > [adjective] > acting from compulsion
compulsive1902
1902 A. R. Diefendorf tr. E. Kraepelin Clin. Psychiatry 25 Compulsive ideas are those ideas which irresistibly force themselves into consciousness.
1909 Cent. Dict. Suppl. Compulsive insanity, insanity in which imperative ideas, or obsessions, completely dominate the patient.
1954 A. Koestler Invisible Writing xvii. 196 He was a compulsive liar, and had a pathological craving for fame.
1957 C. E. Buxton in E. Hilgard Introd. Psychol. (ed. 2) xx. 490/2 The compulsive personality is characterized by excessive cleanliness, orderliness, obstinacy and stinginess. In the extreme, behavior becomes repetitive and ritualistic.
1962 Listener 1 Nov. 711/2 He became compulsive about time and always wore two watches.
1965 D. M. Levy in G. E. Daniels New Perspectives in Psychoanal. 249 Some tics are of a different variety..and are commonly referred to as compulsive movements.
b. Of a book, etc.: holding one's attention, as if by a compulsion.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > attracting attention > [adjective]
catching?a1430
vive1528
fascinating1618
affecting1665
amusing1695
uptaking1737
striking1752
interesting1768
arresting1792
frappant1797
riveting1800
engrossing1820
enchaining1823
arrestive1834
alive1844
vivid1853
seizing1865
absorptive1881
absorbative1893
gripping1896
intriguing1909
attention-getting1917
grippy1921
head-turning1938
gimmicky1957
compulsive1961
spellbinding1978
stunty1981
1961 John o' London's 4 May 506/4 This too is an outstandingly compulsive, perceptive and human book.
1962 Listener 11 Jan. 104/1 Redmond Macdonogh's Five Days to Friday..proved compulsive listening.
B. n.
1. Something that compels or tends to compel. (Cf. dissuasive n., etc.) Obsolete. rare.
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society > authority > subjection > obedience > compulsion > [noun] > agency or means of
compulsorya1513
screw1618
wrench1622
compulsive1638
coercitive1651
coercive1651
enforcive1686
persuader1788
steamroller1896
1638 W. Chillingworth Relig. Protestants i. ii. §154. 113 Judge..whether these Motives or inducements to your Church be not..opposed with Compulsives, and enforcements from it.
2. Psychology. A person typically subject to compulsions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > degree or type of mental illness > [noun] > compulsion neurosis > person
compulsive1957
the mind > mental capacity > psychology > theory of psychoanalysis > libido > obsession > [noun] > compulsion > person subject to
compulsive1957
1957 P. Lafitte Person in Psychol. vi. 75 The compulsive scrupulously accumulates objects in his office and home workshop.
1959 N. Mailer Advts. for Myself (1961) 156 I had the impression she was a compulsive.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1604