Word
compulsive
Phoneticscom·pul·sive, stress on the second syllable
US/kəmˈpəɫsɪv/
UK/kəmpˈʌlsɪv/
Definitions
01irresistible behavior
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine
adj. describes a strong urge that you cannot stop or control, even if you want to.
adj. resulting from or relating to an irresistible urge, especially one that is against one's conscious wishes.
“He has a compulsive habit of checking his phone every two minutes.”
“The patient exhibited compulsive hand-washing rituals that significantly interfered with his ability to maintain a regular work schedule.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a person driven by urges
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describes a person who does something so often that they cannot stop.
adj. acting as a result of an irresistible urge; frequently applied to habitual behaviors like lying or gambling.
“She is a compulsive liar who makes up stories for no reason.”
“The documentary explores the psychology of compulsive gamblers who continue to bet even after losing their life savings.”
Antonyms
03a person with these traits
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Medicine Technical
n. a person who has a very strong need to do something repeatedly.
n. a person who exhibits compulsive behaviors or suffers from an obsessive-compulsive disorder.
“As a compulsive, he found it difficult to relax when things were messy.”
“The study compared the neurological responses of compulsives to those of a control group when presented with specific environmental triggers.”
Synonyms
Usage
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'become' or 'be', and attributively before nouns like 'liar', 'gambler', or 'shopper'.
Pitfall
He has a compulsive to wash his hands.
He has a compulsion to wash his hands.
Learners often use the adjective 'compulsive' when they need the noun 'compulsion' to describe the urge itself.
Real-World Examples
“He is a journalist but also an entertainer, a circus ringleader and maybe a compulsive performer.” Are there parallels with the current US president?” “It was life at its best.”
But her childhood was also when her compulsive behaviour started.” “Kershaw, who had a take home pay of £1,400 a month, claimed to have a "compulsive shopping addiction", and give money to beggars, as well as pay household bills.” Etymology
Borrowed from French compulsif, formed from Latin compulsus, past participle of compellere (“to compel”), from com- (“together”) + pellere (“to drive”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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