What does obsessive mean?
Obsessive describes a person, behavior, or state marked by an intense and often excessive preoccupation with someone or something. The word can suggest extraordinary dedication, as in an obsessive attention to detail, but it more commonly implies a focus that is difficult to control or that excludes other concerns. In psychology and medicine, it refers to persistent, intrusive thoughts or repetitive behaviors, especially those associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder. As a noun, an obsessive is someone whose attention or conduct is dominated by a particular fixation. The word derives from the Latin obsidere, meaning to sit at, besiege, or occupy, which helps explain its sense of thoughts that surround and persistently occupy the mind.
Characterized by an intense and often excessive preoccupation with a particular person, thing, or idea.
"The team was obsessive about ensuring every detail met the client's requirements."
Often mildly critical in general use; in clinical contexts, it can describe persistent thoughts or behaviors associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
A person whose thoughts or behavior are dominated by an intense and often excessive preoccupation.
"She was an obsessive who kept detailed records of every book she read."
Less common than the adjectival use and sometimes informal.
Used for multiple people who are characterized by intense or excessive preoccupation; less common than the adjectival sense.
"The novel portrays several obsessive scholars whose lives have been narrowed by their research."
The word obsessive comes from the same Latin root as besiege: what once meant sitting around something came to describe thoughts that refuse to leave it alone.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does obsessive come from?
The word comes through French from Latin obsidere, meaning to sit at, besiege, or occupy. Its English relatives developed from the idea of being besieged or surrounded, and by extension of being persistently preoccupied. The root is also reflected in words such as obsession and obsess, which preserve the sense of thoughts that occupy the mind.
Related word forms
How obsessive is actually used
In everyday use, obsessive usually suggests an excessive or difficult-to-control focus and may sound critical. In medical and psychological contexts, it can describe persistent thoughts, rituals, or behavior associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder; the full clinical term is preferred when a diagnosis is being discussed.
Easily confused with obsessive
An obsessive is a person marked by an intense preoccupation, whereas an obsession is the thought, interest, or behavior that dominates that person's attention.
Possessive describes strong ownership or control, while obsessive describes an intense, often excessive focus; a person can be possessive without being obsessive.