How to Use compulsive in a Sentence

compulsive

adjective
  • Film noir tends to be about two things: compulsive love and the crimes that get in the way of it.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2024
  • This predilection points to a compulsive hold on the life force that had propelled her from the start.
    Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2021
  • Greene was a compulsive gambler who shrugged off the loss of pot loads of money.
    Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2023
  • The key signs of CHS are regular pot use and compulsive bathing.
    Molly Sullivan, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024
  • Resist the compulsive drive to grade the Cowboys draft more than a week before the class reports to The Star for practice.
    David Moore, Dallas News, 5 May 2021
  • Remove the color—and therefore fun—from your screen to keep compulsive scrolling in check.
    Cathryne Keller, SELF, 13 Aug. 2024
  • But the compulsive workouts only left him more tired, more on edge.
    The Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Oct. 2020
  • There are compulsive shoppers who hoard things with the tags still on them (keep the tags on and sell it!) and buy multiple versions of the same thing.
    Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2019
  • Mazurek has found that adults with autism are more prone to compulsive video-game use than their typical peers.
    Sarah Deweerdt, Science | AAAS, 22 June 2018
  • Keep your crabby comments and compulsive shopping on the down-low — at least for those 10 days.
    Elizabeth Gulino, refinery29.com, 20 Oct. 2023
  • This sent me on a search to find the answers to two questions: Why are some people compulsive talkers?
    Dan Lyons, Time, 19 Jan. 2023
  • So there’s something kind of compulsive about her desire to teach these lessons, in this very structured way.
    Emma Dibdin, Harper's BAZAAR, 28 Dec. 2020
  • Some of you may wonder how my wife puts up with living with a compulsive punster.
    Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2022
  • There were the compulsive purchases on QVC of beauty products that weren’t in short supply around the house.
    Greg Swatek, baltimoresun.com, 17 May 2021
  • But your wife’s compulsive smartphone use seems beyond the point of reason.
    Annie Lane, oregonlive, 26 June 2021
  • Not everything has to be Rick and Morty; hell, even Rick and Morty’s compulsive meta-commentary can be too much.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023
  • Over the course of eight, two-hour episodes, viewers will take a look inside of the lives of those living with and suffering from compulsive hoarding.
    oregonlive, 22 Mar. 2021
  • Settle in for what’s guaranteed to be a compulsive watch.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 25 July 2024
  • To compensate for these feelings, some of us may make a compulsive purchase in order to self-soothe.
    Taayoo Murray, Essence, 4 Dec. 2023
  • Darcy takes on topics like consumerist malaise, the loneliness of compulsive scrolling, and the constant threat of war.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2022
  • For someone his critics say is a compulsive liar, Mr. Trump has been remarkably true to his word.
    Tony Abbott, WSJ, 13 July 2018
  • As a travel writer and compulsive face-toucher, this has been a stressful time.
    cleveland, 29 Mar. 2020
  • Along with her excessive barking and bouts of compulsive fur-licking, Apple refused to eat and paced by the front door for days at a time.
    Susan Spillman, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2019
  • But please be aware that compulsive gambling is an addiction, and your fiance could fall off the wagon at any time.
    Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 12 July 2023
  • Technology has raised the stakes for those with compulsive habits.
    David A. Lieb, The Enquirer, 7 Sep. 2023
  • Checking off all the best qualities of a toiletry bag, this Calpak case works for even the most compulsive over-packer.
    Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 19 Aug. 2022
  • And in some cases, nose-picking can become a compulsive habit, like biting your nails.
    Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 4 Mar. 2023
  • Those symptoms might include compulsive use or having their use get in the way of their ability to focus on and live their life.
    Korin Miller, SELF, 13 Aug. 2018
  • Some people who take dopamine-increasing Parkinson’s drugs develop compulsive gambling or shopping habits—an issue of too much wanting.
    Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2024
  • TikTok uses an addictive content-recommendation system designed to keep minors on the platform as long as possible and as often as possible, despite the dangers of compulsive use.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'compulsive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: