compulsiveness

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•pul•sive /kəmˈpʌlsɪv/   adj. 

1. resulting from or caused by a compulsion:
   compulsive overeating.
2. not able to be resisted;
   having the power to compel:
   Cartoons are almost compulsive TV shows to young children.
com•pul•sive•ly, adv.: gambled compulsively. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•pul•sive  (kəm pul′siv), adj. 

1. compelling; compulsory.
2. Psychiatry
   • pertaining to, characterized by, or involving compulsion:
     a compulsive desire to cry.
   • governed by an obsessive need to conform, be scrupulous, etc., coupled with an inability to express positive emotions.

n. 

3. Psychiatry a person whose behavior is governed by a compulsion.

• Latin compuls(us), past participle of compellere; see compulsion) + -ive
• obsolete compulse verb, verbal (1595–1605

com•pul′sive•ly, adv. 
com•pul′sive•ness, com•pul•siv•i•ty  (kəm pul siv′i tē, kom′pul-), n.