compulsive

/kəm'pʌlsiv/

Thân thiện

A student has a compulsive need to organize her books by color.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Strongly motivated to succeed: Describes a person who has an irresistible, often excessive, drive to achieve or accomplish something.
   • Caused by or suggestive of psychological compulsion: Describes a behavior, feeling, or action that is difficult to stop or control because of a powerful, often irrational, inner urge.

2. Noun:

   • A person with a compulsive disposition; someone who feels compelled to do certain things: Refers to an individual whose personality or behavior is characterized by compulsions.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • She is a compulsive worker, often staying at the office until midnight. (Describing an irresistible drive to work.)
  • His compulsive need for order makes him rearrange the bookshelf daily. (Describing an action driven by an inner urge.)
  • The film was compulsive viewing; I couldn't stop watching it. (Suggesting something is irresistibly engaging.)

• Noun:

  • As a compulsive, he finds it impossible to leave a puzzle unfinished. (Referring to a person with such a disposition.)

Advanced Usage

• "Compulsive liar": A person who lies habitually and uncontrollably, often without a clear motive.

  • It's hard to trust him because he's known to be a compulsive liar.

• "Compulsive behavior": Actions that are performed repeatedly and excessively, often in response to an obsessive thought.

  • Hand-washing can become a compulsive behavior for some individuals with anxiety.

Variants and Related Words

• Compulsively (adverb): In a compulsive manner.

  • He checked his phone compulsively every few minutes.

• Compulsiveness (noun): The quality or state of being compulsive.

  • The compulsiveness of his habits was concerning to his family.

• Compulsion (noun): The action or state of being forced to do something; the irresistible urge to behave in a certain way.

  • She felt a compulsion to tell the truth.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Irresistible, uncontrollable, driven, obsessive, habitual.
• Noun: Addict (in specific contexts like gambling), obsessive.

Related Phrases

• "Compulsive gambling": A disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop.

  • He lost his savings due to compulsive gambling.

• "Compulsive eating": Consuming large amounts of food in a short period, often when not physically hungry, and feeling unable to stop.

  • She sought help for her compulsive eating.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. strongly motivated to succeed
2. caused by or suggestive of psychological compulsion
   • compulsive drinking

Noun

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

Từ đồng nghĩa

• determined
• driven