Compulsive — Com*pul sive, a. Having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion. [1913 Webster] Religion is . . . inconsistent with all compulsive motives. Sharp. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
compulsive — index compelling, obligatory Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
compulsive — c.1600, from Fr. compulsif, from L. compulsus, pp. of compellere (see COMPEL (Cf. compel)). Psychological sense is from 1902. As a noun, attested from 1630s; psychological sense from 1957. Related: Compulsively; compulsiveness … Etymology dictionary
compulsive — [adj] driving, obsessive besetting, compelling, enthusiastic, irresistible, overwhelming, passionate, uncontrollable, urgent; concept 401 Ant. controlled, easy going, free, independent … New thesaurus
compulsive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) resulting from or acting on an irresistible urge. 2) irresistibly interesting or exciting. DERIVATIVES compulsively adverb compulsiveness noun … English terms dictionary
compulsive — [kəm pul′siv] adj. [ML compulsivus] of, having to do with, or resulting from compulsion compulsively adv … English World dictionary
compulsive — com|pul|sive [kəmˈpʌlsıv] adj 1.) compulsive behaviour is very difficult to stop or control, and is often a result of or a sign of a mental problem →↑obsessive compulsive gambling/overeating/spending etc ▪ Compulsive overspending in these days of … Dictionary of contemporary English
compulsive — [[t]kəmpʌ̱lsɪv[/t]] 1) ADJ: ADJ n You use compulsive to describe people or their behaviour when they cannot stop doing something wrong, harmful, or unnecessary. ...a compulsive liar... He was a compulsive gambler and often heavily in debt.… … English dictionary
compulsive — adjective 1 compulsive behaviour is very difficult to stop or control, and is often a result of or a sign of a mental problem: Compulsive spending is often a symptom of deep unhappiness. 2 a compulsive liar/gambler/drinker etc someone who has… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
compulsive — com|pul|sive [ kəm pʌlsıv ] adjective impossible to control and therefore sometimes harmful: a compulsive eating disorder His compulsive need to succeed made him unpopular with the rest of the staff. a. used about people who have a habit they… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
