What does Compulsive mean?

Definitions for Compulsive
kəmˈpʌl sɪvcom·pul·sive

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Compulsive.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. compulsiveadjective

    a person with a compulsive disposition; someone who feels compelled to do certain things

  2. compulsiveadjective

    caused by or suggestive of psychological compulsion

    "compulsive drinking"

  3. compulsive, determined, drivenadjective

    strongly motivated to succeed

Wiktionary

  1. compulsivenoun

    One who exhibits compulsive behaviours.

  2. compulsiveadjective

    uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious

  3. Etymology: From compulsus, past participle of compellere, from +.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Compulsiveadjective

    Having the power to compel; forcible.

    Etymology: from compulser, Fr. compulsus, Latin.

    The Danube, vast and deep,
    Supreme of rivers, to the frightful brink,
    Urg’d by compulsive arms, soon as they reach’d,
    New terror chill’d their veins. Phillips.

    The clergy would be glad to recover their dues by a more short and compulsive method. Jonathan Swift.

Wikipedia

  1. compulsive

    Compulsive behavior is defined as performing an action persistently and repetitively. Compulsive behaviors could be an attempt to make obsessions go away. The act is usually a small, restricted and repetitive behavior, yet not disturbing in a pathological way. Compulsive behaviors are a need to reduce apprehension caused by internal feelings a person wants to abstain from or control. A major cause of compulsive behavior is said to be obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). "The main idea of compulsive behavior is that the likely excessive activity is not connected to the purpose to which it appears directed." There are many different types of compulsive behaviors including shopping, hoarding, eating, gambling, trichotillomania and picking skin, itching, checking, counting, washing, sex, and more. Also, there are cultural examples of compulsive behavior.

ChatGPT

  1. compulsive

    Compulsive refers to the behavior which is driven by an irresistible urge or an uncontrollable impulse, often against one's conscious wishes. It is usually repetitive, persistent, and hard to stop even if it’s harmful. 'Compulsive' can be used to describe both the actions and the person who performs these actions. For instance, compulsive behaviors, compulsive eating, or compulsive gambler.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Compulsiveadjective

    having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce Compulsive?

How to say Compulsive in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of Compulsive in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of Compulsive in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of Compulsive in a Sentence

  1. Sheldon Cooper:

    Any contract I sign is enforced with my own personal code of ethics, and his obsessive compulsive disorder.

  2. Vince Cable:

    In any circumstance it is hard to justify, but more so given the money comes from people struggling with compulsive gambling, this is an industry body needing tighter regulation. We have started high-stake gaming machines. We now need to move into online gambling, and curbing the advertising around it.

  3. Weight Watchers founder Jean Nidetch:

    Compulsive eating is an emotional problem.

  4. Bette Davis:

    I am doomed to an eternity of compulsive work. No set goal achieved satisfies. Success only breeds a new goal. The golden apple devoured has seeds. It is endless.

  5. Josh Hawley:

    When a game is designed for kids, game developers shouldn't be allowed to monetize addiction, and when kids play games designed for adults, they should be walled off from compulsive microtransactions. Game developers who knowingly exploit children should face legal consequences.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

Compulsive#10000#21957#100000

Translations for Compulsive

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

Get even more translations for Compulsive »

Translation

Find a translation for the Compulsive definition in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?

Please enter your email address:


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"Compulsive." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 22 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Compulsive>.

Discuss these Compulsive definitions with the community:

0 Comments

    Are we missing a good definition for Compulsive? Don't keep it to yourself...

    Image or illustration of

    Compulsive

    Credit »

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Quiz

    Are you a words master?

    »
    something (a term or expression or concept) that has a reciprocal relation to something else
    A abandon
    B reciprocal
    C encumbrance
    D conveyance

    Nearby & related entries:

    Alternative searches for Compulsive: