obsessive

English

Etymology

From obsess +‎ -ive.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əbˈsɛsɪv/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛsɪv

Adjective

obsessive (comparative more obsessive, superlative most obsessive)

1. Prone to cause obsession.

   The idea is too tempting, it's obsessive.

2. Having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others.

   Hardcore fans' obsessive behavior may take over their lives.

3. Excessive, as results from obsession.

   A workaholic's obsessive zeal may lead to success or burnout.

   • 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)‎^[1]:

     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.

Synonyms

• (having one thought or pursuing one activity): unrelenting, unyielding, headstrong

Derived terms

• obsessive-compulsive
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
• obsessive-compulsiveness
• obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
• obsessive compulsive spartanism
• obsessive-compulsivity
• obsessively
• schizo-obsessive disorder

 

Related terms

• obsess
• obsession
• obsessional

Translations

prone to cause obsession

• Bulgarian: натрапчив (bg) (natrapčiv)
• Dutch: obsederend (nl)
• Romanian: obsedant (ro)
• Serbo-Croatian: opsedàntan (sh) m

having one thought or pursuing one activity to the absolute or nearly absolute exclusion of all others

• Bulgarian: маниакален (maniakalen)
• Catalan: obsessiu
• Dutch: obsessief (nl), dwangmatig (nl)
• Finnish: pakkomielteinen (fi)
• French: obsessif (fr)
• Galician: obsesivo m
• German: obsessiv (de), zwanghaft (de)
• Irish: dúghafach
• Italian: ossessivo (it)
• Portuguese: obsessivo (pt)
• Spanish: obsesivo (es)

excessive

• German: obsessiv (de), besessen (de)
• Greek: ιδεοληπτικός (el) (ideoliptikós), ψυχαναγκαστικός (el) (psychanagkastikós)
• Polish: obsesyjny (pl)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• Irish: ^{(please verify)} dúghafach

Noun

obsessive (plural obsessives)

1. A person who is obsessed, who has an obsession.

Translations

person who is obsessed

• Dutch: geobsedeerde (nl) m
• French: obsédé (fr) m
• Greek: ιδεοληπτικός (el) (ideoliptikós), ψυχαναγκαστικός (el) (psychanagkastikós)

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔp.sɛ.siv/ ~ /ɔp.se.siv/

Adjective

obsessive

1. feminine singular of obsessif

German

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

obsessive

1. inflection of obsessiv:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular