Word Study
compulsive
CIDE DICTIONARY
compulsive, a.
Having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion. [1913 Webster]
"Religion is . . . inconsistent with all compulsive motives." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
compulsive, adj.
1 compelling.
2 resulting or acting from, or as if from, compulsion (a compulsive gambler).
3 Psychol. resulting or acting from compulsion against one's conscious wishes.
4 irresistible (compulsive entertainment).
1 compelling.
2 resulting or acting from, or as if from, compulsion (a compulsive gambler).
3 Psychol. resulting or acting from compulsion against one's conscious wishes.
4 irresistible (compulsive entertainment).
Derivative
compulsively adv. compulsiveness n.
Etymology
med.L compulsivus (as compel)
THESAURUS
compulsive
accordant, anal, automatic, blind, bourgeois, coactive, coercive, compelling, compulsatory, compulsory, concordant, conditioned, conformist, constrained, constraining, conventional, corresponding, driving, forced, forceful, formalistic, gripping, harmonious, holding, impelling, imperative, imperious, impulsive, in accord, in keeping, in line, in step, instinctive, involuntary, irresistible, kosher, mechanical, obsessing, obsessional, obsessive, orthodox, overwhelming, pedantic, plastic, possessing, precisianistic, preoccupying, pressing, reflex, reflexive, restraining, square, straight, stuffy, traditionalist, unconscious, unintentional, unthinking, unwilled, unwilling, unwitting, uptight, urgentFor further exploring for "compulsive" in Webster Dictionary Online
