obsessive

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /əbˈsɛs.ɪv/ See IPA manual

Freq #13821

Meanings

1

adj
Thinking about one thing or doing one activity far too much.

He has an obsessive need to keep everything perfectly tidy.
2

noun
A person who thinks about one thing far too much.

When it comes to cleanliness, she is a real obsessive.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · thinking about one thing or... obsessional

Word family

Forms obsessives

Derived forms antiobsessivenonobsessiveobsessive-compulsiveobsessive-compulsivenessobsessive-compulsivityobsessivelyobsessivenessunobsessive

Related forms obsess obsession obsessional

Etymology

From obsess + -ive.

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# obsessive

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /əbˈsɛs.ɪv/
**Frequency rank:** 13821

## Meanings
1. Thinking about one thing or doing one activity far too much.
2. A person who thinks about one thing far too much.

## Examples
- He has an obsessive need to keep everything perfectly tidy.
- When it comes to cleanliness, she is a real obsessive.

## Derived Forms
- antiobsessive
- nonobsessive
- obsessive-compulsive
- obsessive-compulsiveness
- obsessive-compulsivity
- obsessively
- obsessiveness
- unobsessive

## Related Forms
- obsess
- obsession
- obsessional

## Etymology
From obsess + -ive.

## AI Etymology
Obsessive comes from obsess + -ive. Modern senses include thinking about one thing or doing one activity far too much and a person who thinks about one thing far too much. The wider word family includes derivatives such as antiobsessive, nonobsessive, obsessive-compulsive, obsessive-compulsiveness, obsessive-compulsivity, and obsessively and related forms such as obsess, obsession, and obsessional.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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