WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ob•ses•sive-com•pul•sive
(əb ses′iv kəm pul′siv),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
- Psychiatry, Psychologyof or pertaining to a personality style characterized by perfectionism, indecision, conscientiousness, concern with detail, rigidity, and inhibition.
- Psychiatryof or pertaining to a neurosis characterized by persistent intrusion of unwanted thoughts (obsessions) or the performance of actions, as repeated hand-washing, that one is unable to stop (compulsions).
n.
- Psychiatrya person having such a personality style.
- 1925–30
'obsessive-compulsive' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):