compulsive

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

compulsive (comparative more compulsive, superlative most compulsive)

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
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.

uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious

Bulgarian: принудителен (bg) (prinuditelen), задължителен
Catalan: compulsiu
Czech: nutkavý
Dutch: dwangmatig (nl)
Finnish: pakonomainen, pakottava (fi)
German: zwanghaft (de)
Hungarian: kényszeres (hu)
Mongolian: өөрийн эрхгүй (ööriin erxgüj)
Polish: kompulsywny (pl), przymusowy (pl)
Romanian: coercitiv (ro) m, constrângător (ro) m
Russian: неконтроли́руемый (ru) (nekontrolírujemyj), навязчивый (ru) (navjazčivyj)
Spanish: compulsivo (es)
Swedish: tvångsmässig (sv)

compulsive (plural compulsives)

English