Use compulsive for behavior, desire, or a person driven by an urge that feels beyond ordinary choice.
Use compulsive for behavior, desire, or a person driven by an urge that feels beyond ordinary choice.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The school made attendance compulsive. | The school made attendance compulsory. |
| He has a compulsive to check the lock. | He has a compulsion to check the lock. |
| She is compulsive happy about the news. | She is extremely happy about the news. |
| The habit is compulsory because he cannot stop it. | The habit is compulsive because he cannot stop it. |
Use compulsive before nouns such as reading, viewing, or listening when something keeps attention almost irresistibly.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The sandwich was compulsive. | The sandwich was delicious. |
| The lecture was compulsive boring. | The lecture was extremely boring. |
| The novel was compulsory reading because I could not stop. | The novel was compulsive reading because I could not stop. |
| The show was compulsive to watch it. | The show was compulsive viewing. |
Use compulsive in this formal sense for a force, pressure, or measure that compels, not for an ordinary requirement.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| All staff must attend the compulsive training. | All staff must attend the compulsory training. |
| The contract has a compulsive clause. | The contract has a mandatory clause. |
| The evidence was compulsory in its force. | The evidence was compulsive in its force. |
| The law is compulsive for drivers to wear seat belts. | The law makes seat belts compulsory for drivers. |
Use compulsive as a noun with care, usually after a modifier such as gambler, shopper, or cleaner, or in clinical discussion.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| His compulsive made him wash his hands. | His compulsion made him wash his hands. |
| The clinic helps compulsions recover. | The clinic helps compulsives recover. |
| She is a compulsive of gambling. | She is a compulsive gambler. |
| A compulsive is the repeated action itself. | A compulsion is the repeated urge or action itself. |
Use compulsive mainly for urges and repeated behavior, and use compulsory or mandatory for ordinary rules.
A compulsory rule is often wrongly called a compulsive rule, but compulsive usually points to an urge or a force that compels.
From medieval Latin compulsivus, from Latin compulsus, the past participle of compellere, meaning to drive together or force.
What does compulsive mean?
Compulsive usually describes an urge, behavior, or person that is hard to control.
Is compulsive the same as compulsory?
No. Compulsive usually means driven by an urge, while compulsory means required by a rule.
Can compulsive mean very interesting?
Yes. Compulsive reading or viewing is so gripping that it is hard to stop.
Is compulsive ever a noun?
Yes. A compulsive is a person subject to compulsions, though the adjective is much more common.
What is a compulsive behavior?
A compulsive behavior is repeated because of a strong urge, often despite harm or conscious resistance.
Can a law be compulsive?
In formal use, compulsive can mean having power to compel, but mandatory or compulsory is clearer for most laws.
What are synonyms for compulsive?
For urges, synonyms include obsessive, uncontrollable, and driven. For media, gripping and absorbing fit better.
What are antonyms for compulsive?
Controlled, voluntary, and deliberate can oppose the urge sense. Dull or boring oppose the media sense.
Where does compulsive come from?
Compulsive comes through medieval Latin from Latin compellere, meaning to drive together or force.