Definition of obsessive–compulsive in US English:
obsessive–compulsive
adjectiveəbˌsesivkəmˈpəlsivəbˌsɛsɪvkəmˈpəlsɪv
Psychiatry Denoting or relating to a disorder in which a person feels compelled to perform certain stereotyped actions repeatedly to alleviate persistent fears or intrusive thoughts, typically resulting in severe disruption of daily life.
the compulsion to wash the hands over and over is one of the most common manifestations of obsessive-compulsive disorder
some people spend less than an hour engaged in obsessive-compulsive behavior— for others it may consume their whole day
Example sentencesExamples
- For people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, obsession creates a maze of persistent, unwanted thoughts.
- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder most often occurs in men.
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental health condition that affects 2% of the population.