com ‧ pul ‧ sive /kəmˈpʌlsɪv/ BrE AmE adjective
1 . 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]