compulsive

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

• IPA^(key): /kəmˈpʌlsɪv/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

compulsive (comparative more compulsive, superlative most compulsive)

1. Uncontrolled or reactive and irresistible.

   Jenny is a compulsive liar—don't believe a thing she says.

   • 1990, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990:

     Under this Act, the term "disability" shall not include—...(2) compulsive gambling, kleptomania, or pyromania; or […]

   • 1992, “Brian Wilson”, performed by Barenaked Ladies:

     Call it impulsive, call it compulsive, call it insane / But when I'm surrounded I just can't stop

2. Having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion.
   • a. 1729, Samuel Clarke, The Doctrines of Religion reasonable to be believed:

     Religion is […] inconsistent with all compulsive Motives.

• compel
• compulsion
• compulsory

compulsive (plural compulsives)

1. One who exhibits compulsive behaviours.

• “compulsive”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “compulsive”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
• “compulsive”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

• Audio (France (Lyon)):

  (file)

compulsive

1. feminine singular of compulsif

• IPA^(key): /kom.pulˈsi.ve/
• Rhymes: -ive
• Hyphenation: com‧pul‧sì‧ve

compulsive

1. feminine plural of compulsivo