Standard Lemma guide

obsessive

adj · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

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.

  • /əbˈsɛs.ɪv/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛsɪv
  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 B S EH1 S IH0 V Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Prone to cause obsession.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The idea is too tempting, it's obsessive.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Having one thought or pursuing one activity (an obsession) to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Hardcore fans' obsessive behavior may take over their lives.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Excessive, as results from obsession.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • A workaholic's obsessive zeal may lead to success or burnout.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A person who is obsessed, who has an obsession.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

characterized by or constituting an obsession

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the obsessional character of his response
  • obsessive gambling

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: obsessional

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

a person who has obsessions

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: neurotic, psychoneurotic, mental case

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English obsess Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Old French -ifbor. Middle English -yf English -ive English obsessive From obsess + -ive.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: натрапчив (natrapčiv) — prone to cause obsession
  • Dutch: obsederend — prone to cause obsession
  • Romanian: obsedant — prone to cause obsession
  • Serbo-Croatian: opsedàntan — prone to cause obsession
  • Bulgarian: маниакален (maniakalen) — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • Catalan: obsessiu — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • Dutch: obsessief — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • Dutch: dwangmatig — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • Finnish: pakkomielteinen — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • French: obsessif — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • Galician: obsesivo — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • German: obsessiv — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • German: zwanghaft — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • Irish: dúghafach — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • Italian: ossessivo — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • Portuguese: obsessivo — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • Spanish: obsesivo — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • Turkish: obsesif — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • Turkish: takıntılı — having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
  • German: obsessiv — excessive
  • German: besessen — excessive
  • Greek: ιδεοληπτικός (ideoliptikós) — excessive
  • Greek: ψυχαναγκαστικός (psychanagkastikós) — excessive
  • Polish: obsesyjny — excessive
  • Dutch: geobsedeerde — person who is obsessed
  • French: obsédé — person who is obsessed
  • Greek: ιδεοληπτικός (ideoliptikós) — person who is obsessed
  • Greek: ψυχαναγκαστικός (psychanagkastikós) — person who is obsessed
  • Turkish: takık — person who is obsessed
  • Turkish: saplantılı — person who is obsessed