OBSESSIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does obsessive mean? 

• OBSESSIVE (noun)
  The noun OBSESSIVE has 1 sense:

1. a person who has obsessions

  Familiarity information: OBSESSIVE used as a noun is very rare.

• OBSESSIVE (adjective)
  The adjective OBSESSIVE has 1 sense:

1. characterized by or constituting an obsession

  Familiarity information: OBSESSIVE used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OBSESSIVE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person who has obsessions

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("obsessive" is a kind of...):

mental case; neurotic; psychoneurotic (a person suffering from neurosis)

Derivation:

obsessive (characterized by or constituting an obsession)

• OBSESSIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characterized by or constituting an obsession

Synonyms:

obsessional; obsessive

Context example:

obsessive gambling

Similar:

neurotic; psychoneurotic (affected with emotional disorder)

Derivation:

obsess (be preoccupied with something)

obsessive (a person who has obsessions)

obsessiveness; obsessivity (extreme compulsiveness)

 Context examples 

A major symptom is an obsessive interest in a single subject.

(Asperger Syndrome, NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

If this sounds a little obsessive to you, I guess it is!

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The debilitating behaviours and all-consuming thoughts, which affect people with severe obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), could be significantly improved with targeted deep brain stimulation.

(Deep brain stimulation may significantly improve OCD symptoms, University of Cambridge)

Treatment focuses on the three main symptoms: poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness.

(Asperger Syndrome, NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)