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Added 9 October 2026

compulsive

/kəmˈpʌlsɪv/ noun

Categories: PeopleUncommon Words

Latin root: compulsus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about compulsive at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A person with a compulsive disposition; someone who feels compelled to do certain things.

adjective

  1. Caused by or suggestive of psychological compulsion.
    compulsive drinking
  2. Strongly motivated to succeed.

Origin

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

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: drivenambitiousdeterminedneuroticpsychoneuroticobsessivecompellingheavyforcedcompulsoryknockpathological

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