adj
Meaning 1
Uncontrolled or reactive and irresistible.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- Jenny is a compulsive liar—don't believe a thing she says.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
compulsive
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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/kəmˈpʌlsɪv/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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CMU ARPABET: K AH0 M P AH1 L S IH0 V Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
adj
Meaning 2
Having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
One who exhibits compulsive behaviours.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
strongly motivated to succeed
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: determined, driven
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
caused by or suggestive of psychological compulsion
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- compulsive drinking
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
a person with a compulsive disposition; someone who feels compelled to do certain things
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: person, individual, someone, somebody, mortal, soul
Narrower terms: control freak, exhibitionist, flasher, perfectionist, workaholic
History
Etymology
Borrowed from French compulsif, formed from Latin compulsus, past participle of compellere (“to compel”), from com- (“together”) + pellere (“to drive”).
Across languages
Translations
18 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Bulgarian: принудителен (prinuditelen) — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Bulgarian: задължителен — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Catalan: compulsiu — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Czech: nutkavý — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Dutch: dwangmatig — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Finnish: pakonomainen — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Finnish: pakottava — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- German: zwanghaft — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Hungarian: kényszeres — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Mongolian: өөрийн эрхгүй (ööriin erxgüj) — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Polish: kompulsywny — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Polish: przymusowy — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Romanian: coercitiv — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Romanian: constrângător — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Russian: неконтроли́руемый (nekontrolírujemyj) — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Russian: навязчивый (navjazčivyj) — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Spanish: compulsivo — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
- Swedish: tvångsmässig — uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
Real reading context