compulsive

[ kuh m-puhl-siv ]
/ kəmˈpʌl sɪv /

adjective

compelling; compulsory.
Psychology.
  1. pertaining to, characterized by, or involving compulsion: a compulsive desire to cry.
  2. governed by an obsessive need to conform, be scrupulous, etc., coupled with an inability to express positive emotions.

noun

Psychology. a person whose behavior is governed by a compulsion.

Origin of compulsive

1595–1605; obsolete compulse v. (< Latin compuls(us), past participle of compellere; see compulsion) + -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM compulsive

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH compulsive

compulsive impulsive impetuous (see synonym study at impetuous)

Words nearby compulsive

compton-burnett, comptroller, comptroller general of the united states, comptroller of the currency, compulsion, compulsive, compulsive personality, compulsory, compulsory purchase, compunction, compunctious

Example sentences from the Web for compulsively

British Dictionary definitions for compulsively

compulsive
/ (kəmˈpʌlsɪv) /

adjective

relating to or involving compulsion

noun

psychiatry an individual who is subject to a psychological compulsion

Derived forms of compulsive

compulsively, adverb compulsiveness, noun

Medical definitions for compulsively

compulsive
[ kəm-pŭl′sĭv ]

adj.

Caused or conditioned by compulsion or obsession.

n.

A person with behavior patterns governed by a compulsion.