compulsive

Uncontrolled or reactive and irresistible.

Adjective

  1. Uncontrolled or reactive and irresistible.
    • Jenny is a compulsive liar—don't believe a thing she says.
    • Under this Act, the term "disability" shall not include—...(2) compulsive gambling, kleptomania, or pyromania; or[…] - 1990, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990:
    • Call it impulsive, call it compulsive, call it insane / But when I'm surrounded I just can't stop - 1992, “Brian Wilson”, performed by Barenaked Ladies:
  2. Having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion.
    • Religion is […] inconsistent with all compulsive Motives. - a. 1729, Samuel Clarke, The Doctrines of Religion reasonable to be believed:

Origin

Borrowed from French compulsif, formed from Latin compulsus, past participle of compellere (“to compel”), from com- (“together”) + pellere (“to drive”).

Forms

more compulsive most compulsive

Related

compel compulsion compulsory

Derived

anticompulsive clothing compulsive compulsive behaviour compulsive decluttering compulsive hoarder compulsive hoarding compulsively compulsiveness compulsive streak compulsivity noncompulsive obsessive-compulsive uncompulsive

Noun

  1. One who exhibits compulsive behaviours.

Forms

compulsives