ENGLISH
REFERENCE

obsessive

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //əbˈsɛsɪv// UK //ɒbsˈɛsɪv// ob·ses·sive

adj. thinking about one thing or person all the time in a way that is not healthy. You use this to describe someone who cannot stop focusing on a specific detail or activity.

adj. characterised by an excessive, often unhealthy preoccupation with a particular person, activity, or idea. Frequently used to describe personality traits or specific behaviours that repeat uncontrollably.


SIMPLE

He is obsessive about keeping his desk perfectly clean.

CONTEXTUAL

Her obsessive attention to detail made her an excellent editor, though it often caused her to work late into the night.

COMPLEX

The detective's obsessive pursuit of the truth eventually alienated his colleagues, who felt he had lost his sense of perspective on the case.

Synonyms
Origin

From obsess + -ive.

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'about'. Can be used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.

Pitfall

He is obsessive with his work.He is obsessive about his work.While 'obsessed' often takes 'with', the adjective 'obsessive' more commonly pairs with the preposition 'about'.

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