Synonyms of obsessive

obsessive

adjective

äb-ˈse-siv 

as in impulsive

caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge

intrigued by the man's obsessive counting of everyday objects

Synonyms & Similar Words

• impulsive
• compulsive
• obsessional
• driven
• spontaneous
• automatic
• instinctive
• uncontrollable
• besetting
• irrepressible
• mechanical
• reflex
• unpredictable
• unconscious
• unthinking
• whimsical
• knee-jerk
• involuntary
• conditioned
• capricious
• unwitting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wilful
• voluntary
• willful
• manageable
• controllable
• unforced
• resistible

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of obsessive

Irish actress Niamh Algar (Raised By Wolves) stars as the titular Iris Nixon, an enigmatic genius and obsessive puzzler who is recruited by the charming philanthropist Cameron McIntyre (Tom Hollander) to break a code that will unlock a dangerously powerful, world-changing piece of technology. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2025

George is an obsessive chronicler of his own role in history: In his study, nestled in an idyllic Hudson estate, a floor-to-ceiling shelf is filled with hundreds of black Moleskines, meticulously dated and labeled. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025

Henry’s awkward interpersonal interactions and obsessive behavioral patterns are both strange and familiar. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2025

That discovery leads to an obsessive quest to locate the game’s production company with Froggy intending to snag a copy and find him. —David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2025