adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a compulsive eater (= someone who cannot stop themselves eating too much )
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Most compulsive eaters suffer from a range of psychological problems.
a congenital/pathological/compulsive liar formal (= who tells lies because it is part of their personality to do so )
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He called her a congenital liar who would say anything to stay out of trouble.
compulsive gambler
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Stevens was a compulsive gambler .
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
gambler
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Most compulsive gamblers are not hugely successful.
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I imagine compulsive gamblers get started this way.
reading
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In particular he remembers the very smart set of poetry classics, and noted his friend's compulsive reading of them.
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The dialogue itself makes compulsive reading and there are many musical quotations and ideas to pursue.
viewing
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The confessions, recriminations and bubbling bile of this long night's drinking into dawn make for increasingly compulsive viewing .
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Such a romantic scenario, such an agonising scene to witness and yet it was compulsive viewing for Ruth.
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It took Ron and myself two days to view it, and compulsive viewing most of it was.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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Compulsive behaviour is often a symptom of deeper psychological problems.
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compulsive hand-washing
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Compulsive shoppers often never even open the goods they buy.
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Compulsive spending is often a symptom of deep unhappiness.
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He's a compulsive liar -- you can't believe a word he says.
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Her problem is compulsive over-eating.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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A tradition that was based only on communication could not lead to the compulsive character that attaches to religious phenomena.
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But the book makes for compulsive reading.
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Overcoming Overeating may be a powerful way for some women to break a long habit of compulsive eating.
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Presently the man-apes began to move forward, like sleepwalkers, toward the source of that compulsive sound.
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The eating disorders include compulsive overeating and severe anorexia, both being found in some patients.
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The perfectionist, as we saw, tries to do things perfectly because of his or her compulsive desire to avoid showing anger.
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You tend to be compulsive about your job and wind up defeating yourself.