compulsive
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/kəmˈpʌlsɪv/
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Behavior or a person driven by hard-to-control urges, with extensions for gripping attention and, more formally, compelling force.
Examples
Critics objected to the policy's compulsive character.
Her diary makes compulsive reading even in its quiet chapters.
The clinic treats compulsive eating and spending.
The chess match was oddly compulsive once the attack began.
The podcast is compulsive listening for history fans.
Similar words
addict
riveting
obsessive
compelling
obsessive
driven
addictive
coercive
pressing
engrossing
Meanings
Examples
Her compulsive gambling put the family in debt.
He became a compulsive checker of locks and windows.
The clinic treats compulsive eating and spending.
A compulsive need to confess kept interrupting the meeting.
His compulsive honesty made small talk difficult.
Similar words
obsessive
uncontrollable
driven
addictive
irresistible
habitual
Examples
The trial became compulsive viewing across the country.
Her diary makes compulsive reading even in its quiet chapters.
The podcast is compulsive listening for history fans.
A tight plot turned the series into compulsive television.
The chess match was oddly compulsive once the attack began.
Similar words
gripping
absorbing
compelling
riveting
addictive
engrossing
Examples
The state relied on compulsive measures to collect the tax.
The evidence had a compulsive force that no juror could ignore.
A compulsive pressure for reform grew after the scandal.
The order carried a compulsive power beyond ordinary advice.
Critics objected to the policy's compulsive character.
Similar words
compelling
coercive
forcing
constraining
pressing
binding
Examples
The memoir describes life as a recovering compulsive.
He was not merely careless with money, but a compulsive.
The group welcomes compulsives who want support.
In the case notes, the doctor called him a compulsive.
The article contrasted an occasional shopper with a compulsive.
Similar words
obsessive
addict
habitual
fixated person
Etymology
From medieval Latin compulsivus, from Latin compulsus, the past participle of compellere, meaning to drive together or force.
FAQ
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.
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.
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