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
compulsively adverb
compulsiveness noun
compulsivity
kəm-ˌpəl-ˈsi-və-tē
noun ˌkäm-
Synonyms
- besetting
- driven
- impulsive
- obsessional
- obsessive
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
his compulsive clowning around can sometimes be annoying
Recent Examples on the Web In the film, Fraser plays a reclusive English teacher with a compulsive overeating disorder, attempting to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter, Ellie (Sadie Sink). 
Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 5 Sep. 2022 Jason has lived with obsessive compulsive disorder since childhood. Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 2 Sep. 2022 The combined result for some adolescents is a kind of cognitive implosion: anxiety, depression, compulsive behaviors, self-harm and even suicide. New York Times, 23 Apr. 2022 Then, under the law, that plan must also offer unlimited visits for a mental health condition such as depression or obsessive compulsive disorder. Katherine Landergan, ajc, 3 Aug. 2022 So people using them to help PTSD, to help anxiety, to help obsessive compulsive disorder, to help depression, fear of death in cancer patients. Wired Staff, Wired, 28 July 2022 This disorder consists of the compulsive eating of non-food items, like grass or rocks, according to Great Pet Care. Daryl Perry, USA TODAY, 29 July 2022 There are references to its star’s compulsive lies, comparisons to madman chocolatier Willy Wonka, glimpses of kids’ TV shows preaching the importance of honesty. John Semley, The New Republic, 28 July 2022 Still, there was no denying his cultural influence and compulsive watchability. New York Times, 25 July 2022 See More
Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 5 Sep. 2022 Jason has lived with obsessive compulsive disorder since childhood. Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 2 Sep. 2022 The combined result for some adolescents is a kind of cognitive implosion: anxiety, depression, compulsive behaviors, self-harm and even suicide. New York Times, 23 Apr. 2022 Then, under the law, that plan must also offer unlimited visits for a mental health condition such as depression or obsessive compulsive disorder. Katherine Landergan, ajc, 3 Aug. 2022 So people using them to help PTSD, to help anxiety, to help obsessive compulsive disorder, to help depression, fear of death in cancer patients. Wired Staff, Wired, 28 July 2022 This disorder consists of the compulsive eating of non-food items, like grass or rocks, according to Great Pet Care. Daryl Perry, USA TODAY, 29 July 2022 There are references to its star’s compulsive lies, comparisons to madman chocolatier Willy Wonka, glimpses of kids’ TV shows preaching the importance of honesty. John Semley, The New Republic, 28 July 2022 Still, there was no denying his cultural influence and compulsive watchability. New York Times, 25 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Medieval Latin compulsīvus, from Latin compulsus, past participle of compellere "to drive together, force to go, force (to a view, course of action)" + -īvus -ive — more at compel
First Known Use
1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing compulsive
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
compulsive
2 of 2noun
: one who is subject to a psychological compulsion
compulsive
adjective
as in obsessive
caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge his compulsive clowning around can sometimes be annoying Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- obsessive
- impulsive
- obsessional
- driven
- spontaneous
- instinctive
- automatic
- besetting
- uncontrollable
- irrepressible
- reflex
- mechanical
- unthinking
- unpredictable
- unconscious
- knee-jerk
- whimsical
- conditioned
- involuntary
- capricious
- unwitting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- wilful
- willful
- voluntary
- controllable
- unforced
- resistible
- manageable