Meanings
comparative more obsessive · superlative most obsessive
- Prone to cause obsession.
The idea is too tempting, it's obsessive.
- Having one thought or pursuing one activity (an obsession) to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others.
Hardcore fans' obsessive behavior may take over their lives.
Synonyms: unrelenting, unyielding, headstrong
- Excessive, as results from obsession.
A workaholic's obsessive zeal may lead to success or burnout.
1 more example
Yes, there were instances of grandstanding and obsessive behaviour, but many were concealed at the time to help protect an aggressively peddled narrative of [Oscar] Pistorius the paragon, the emblem, the trailblazer.
2014 October 21, Oliver Brown, “Oscar Pistorius jailed for five years – sport afforded no protection against his tragic fallibilities: Bladerunner's punishment for killing Reeva Steenkamp is but a frippery when set against the burden that her bereft parents, June and Barry, must carry [print version: No room for sentimentality in this tragedy, 13 September 2014, p. S22]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Sport)
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveHaving one thought or pursuing one activity (an obsession) to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others.
More synonyms by meaning
adjectivecharacterized by or constituting an obsession
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Bulgarian натрапчив, маниакален
- натрапчив (natrapčiv)prone to cause obsession
- маниакален (maniakalen)having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
Catalan obsessiu
- obsessiuhaving one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
Dutch obsederend, obsessief
- obsederendprone to cause obsession
- obsessiefhaving one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
- dwangmatighaving one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
- geobsedeerdeperson who is obsessed
Finnish pakkomielteinen
- pakkomielteinenhaving one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
French obsessif, obsédé
- obsessifhaving one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
- obsédéperson who is obsessed
German obsessiv, zwanghaft
- obsessivhaving one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
- zwanghafthaving one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
- obsessivexcessive
- besessenexcessive
Greek ιδεοληπτικός, ψυχαναγκαστικός
- ιδεοληπτικός (ideoliptikós)excessive
- ψυχαναγκαστικός (psychanagkastikós)excessive
- ιδεοληπτικός (ideoliptikós)person who is obsessed
- ψυχαναγκαστικός (psychanagkastikós)person who is obsessed
Irish dúghafach
- dúghafachhaving one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
Italian ossessivo
- ossessivohaving one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
Polish obsesyjny
- obsesyjnyexcessive
Portuguese obsessivo
- obsessivohaving one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
Romanian obsedant
- obsedantprone to cause obsession
Spanish obsesivo
- obsesivohaving one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
Turkish obsesif, takıntılı
- obsesifhaving one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
- takıntılıhaving one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others
- takıkperson who is obsessed
- saplantılıperson who is obsessed
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with obsessive
Cite this entry
obsessive. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/obsessive
“obsessive.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/obsessive. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “obsessive,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/obsessive.
Source: obsessive on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.