# compulsive

/kəmˈpəɫsɪv/ (US) · /kəmpˈʌlsɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/compulsive
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. irresistible behavior

adjective · CEFR B2

describes a strong urge that you cannot stop or control, even if you want to.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. a person driven by urges

adjective · CEFR B2

describes a person who does something so often that they cannot stop.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. a person with these traits

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a person who has a very strong need to do something repeatedly.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- He is a compulsive gambler who cannot stop.
- Her compulsive cleaning meant that the house was always spotless, even when she was exhausted.
- The novel explores the protagonist's compulsive need for validation, illustrating how this internal pressure eventually alienates his closest friends and colleagues.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.