obsession
noun
ob·ses·sion
äb-ˈse-shən 
əb-
1
: a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling
broadly
: compelling motivation
an obsession with profits
has an obsession with gambling
2
: something that causes an obsession
Losing weight can be an obsession that results in the avoidance of certain foods.
obsessionally
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of obsession in a Sentence
He was fascinated by the actress and tracking her every move had become an obsession.
She has an obsession about cleanliness.
Her concern about cleanliness approaches the level of obsession.
Money has become an obsession for him.
Recent Examples on the Web
The increasing obsession with longevity has inspired a backlash.
—
Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
But the real obsession with prehistory began after World War II, when the collapse of Nazi Germany breathed life into three conflicting social goals that influenced public intellectuals.
—Stefanos Geroulanos, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2024
In some ways, the flaws in Back to Black are similar to the weaknesses in her late 1990s/early 2000s art: a certain facile interest in surface, an obsession with celebrity and fame that lacks insight, a pop video-deep approach to narrative.
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
Bigelow turns Chastain’s obsession into a crackling detective story, complete with enough real-world intelligence-gathering gadgetry to put James Bond to shame.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
Most people can trace their obsession to the past decade.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2024
The series seizes on the book’s obsession with aesthetics, reimagining the 1955 page-turner as a Künstlerroman and its murderous antihero as an artist whose medium happens to be crime.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
Boeing desperately needs a hard slap in the face to transform a mindset that’s strayed from the obsession with quality that made the planemaker great to a focus on speed and profits.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
Sugar’s obsession stands in stark contrast with the dull, bland mystery presented to the audience.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
But the real obsession with prehistory began after World War II, when the collapse of Nazi Germany breathed life into three conflicting social goals that influenced public intellectuals.
—Stefanos Geroulanos, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2024
In some ways, the flaws in Back to Black are similar to the weaknesses in her late 1990s/early 2000s art: a certain facile interest in surface, an obsession with celebrity and fame that lacks insight, a pop video-deep approach to narrative.
—Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024
Bigelow turns Chastain’s obsession into a crackling detective story, complete with enough real-world intelligence-gathering gadgetry to put James Bond to shame.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
Most people can trace their obsession to the past decade.
—Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2024
The series seizes on the book’s obsession with aesthetics, reimagining the 1955 page-turner as a Künstlerroman and its murderous antihero as an artist whose medium happens to be crime.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 4 Apr. 2024
Boeing desperately needs a hard slap in the face to transform a mindset that’s strayed from the obsession with quality that made the planemaker great to a focus on speed and profits.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
Sugar’s obsession stands in stark contrast with the dull, bland mystery presented to the audience.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obsession.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to obsession
Dictionary Entries Near obsession
Cite this Entry
“Obsession.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obsession. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obsession
noun
ob·ses·sion
äb-ˈsesh-ən
əb-
: a disturbing concern with an idea or feeling that cannot be put out of mind even when it is seen to be unreasonable
also
: such a thought or feeling
Medical Definition
obsession
noun
ob·ses·sion
äb-ˈsesh-ən, əb-
: a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling
also
: something that causes such preoccupation compare compulsion, phobia
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