Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

compulsive

 adjective
     
Related topics: Psychology, Psychiatry
com‧pul‧sive
1MP compulsive behaviour is very difficult to stop or control, and is often a result of or a sign of a mental problem [↪ obsessive]
compulsive gambling/overeating/spending etc
Compulsive overspending in these days of credit cards has become more common.
2

compulsive overeater/gambler/spender/liar etc

someone who has such a strong desire to eat too much etc that they are unable to control it:
a help group for compulsive overeaters
3 a book, programme etc that is compulsive is so interesting that you cannot stop reading or watching it
compulsive reading/viewing
'Gardening World' is compulsive viewing for gardeners.
—compulsively adverb
—compulsiveness noun [uncountable]
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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