Link Centre Dictionary

compulsive

com·pul·sive

UK/kəmˈpʌlsɪv/ US/kʌˈmpʌlsɪv/ uncommon

adjective

1.

caused by or suggestive of psychological compulsion

  • “compulsive drinking”
Similar

noun

1.

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

Origin

Borrowed from French compulsif, formed from Latin compulsus, past participle of compellere (“to compel”), from com- (“together”) + pellere (“to drive”).

Phrases

  • clothing compulsive
  • compulsive behaviour
  • compulsive decluttering
  • compulsive hoarder
  • compulsive hoarding
  • compulsive streak

Related words

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.