Standard Lemma guide

obsessiveness

noun · 2 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

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The characteristic of being obsessive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • His obsessiveness makes it hard to get a word in when you talk to him.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

extreme compulsiveness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: obsessivity

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: compulsiveness, compulsivity

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English obsessive Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English obsessiveness From obsessive + -ness.