obsessive en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /əbˈsɛs.ɪv/
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree English obsess Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Old French -ifbor. Middle English -yf English -ive English obsessive From obsess + -ive.
Meanings
-
Prone to cause obsession.
The idea is too tempting, it's obsessive.
-
Having one thought or pursuing one activity (an obsession) to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others.
Hardcore fans' obsessive behavior may take over their lives.
-
Excessive, as results from obsession.
A workaholic's obsessive zeal may lead to success or burnout.
Yes, there were instances of grandstanding and obsessive behaviour, but many were concealed at the time to help protect an aggressively peddled narrative of [Oscar] Pistorius the paragon, the emblem, the trailblazer.
2014 October 21, Oliver Brown, “Oscar Pistorius jailed for five years – sport afforded no protection against his tragic fallibilities: Bladerunner's punishment for killing Reeva Steenkamp is but a frippery when set against the burden that her bereft parents, June and Barry, must carry [print version: No room for sentimentality in this tragedy, 13 September 2014, p. S22]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Sport):
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most obsessive | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more obsessive | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Deriveds
antiobsessive · obsessive-compulsive disorder · obsessive-compulsive personality disorder · obsessive-compulsiveness · obsessive love disorder · obsessively · unobsessive · nonobsessive · obsessive compulsive spartanism · obsessiveness · obsessive-compulsive · schizo-obsessive disorder · obsessive-compulsivity
Descendants
Relateds
obsess · obsession · obsessional
Synonyms
unrelenting (having one thought or pursuing one activity) · unyielding (having one thought or pursuing one activity) · headstrong (having one thought or pursuing one activity)
Translations (24)
it ossessivo (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others) · es obsesivo (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others) · de besessen (excessive) · gl obsesivo (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others) · de obsessiv (excessive) · bg натрапчив (prone to cause obsession) · bg маниакален (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others) · sh opsedàntan (prone to cause obsession) · fr obsessif (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others) · ro obsedant (prone to cause obsession) · de zwanghaft (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others) · tr obsesif (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others) · nl obsessief (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others) · pt obsessivo (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others) · nl obsederend (prone to cause obsession) · ga dúghafach (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others) · nl dwangmatig (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others) · ca obsessiu (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others) · el ιδεοληπτικός (excessive) · el ψυχαναγκαστικός (excessive) · pl obsesyjny (excessive) · de obsessiv (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others) · fi pakkomielteinen (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others) · tr takıntılı (having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others)