addictive
adj.adj. describing something that is very hard to stop doing or using once you start. It makes you feel like you need more of it to be happy.
adj. causing or likely to cause a physical or psychological dependency. Often describes substances or activities that trigger a reward response in the brain.
This new mobile game is very addictive.
Social media apps are designed to be addictive so that users spend more time scrolling through their feeds.
While some substances are chemically addictive, certain behaviors can also become compulsive through the repeated activation of the brain's dopamine pathways.
First attested 1914. Addiction in modern sense is first attested 1906, in reference to opium. There is an isolated instance from 1779, with reference to tobacco.
Typically used as a predicative adjective after a linking verb or as an attributive adjective before a noun.
He is very addictive to coffeeHe is very addicted to coffeeLearners often confuse the adjective 'addictive' (describing the thing) with the past participle 'addicted' (describing the person's state).