obsession

noun

äb-ˈse-shən How to pronounce obsession (audio)
Definition of obsessionnext
as in problem
something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned her latest obsession is a movie star who she thinks is very handsome

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obsession If you're obsessed with pumpkin spice, the obsession probably doesn't stop with your morning coffee. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 Delving into the archives, chief product officer Barbara Zappoli and the team of expert seamstresses sought to refresh signature lingerie constructions and techniques in the name of comfort, an obsession of brand founder Ada Masotti. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026 It’s been a long journey of taking note of current events, including where the world is going, as well as people’s obsessions and fears. — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026 It’s centered on Bryant’s pillars of passion, obsession, relentlessness, resilience and fearlessness, core traits that Bowman used to persevere and conquer. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obsession
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsession
  1. problem
  2. fascination
  3. preoccupation
  4. fixation
  5. fetish
  6. mania
  7. enthusiasm
Noun
  • Although the problem warrants a systemic fix, the best short-term solution is for hospitals to create more nuanced documentation tools, and for clinicians to exercise judgment when using them.
    — Leah Pierson, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Pennsylvania and New York are not the only states with a growing problem.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of problem
Noun
  • Millet’s 2022 novel Dinosaurs also reflects her fascination with long extinct creatures.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Howard said there is still a fascination with FDR more than 80 years after his death.
    — John Ramos, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of fascination
Noun
  • His output more closely resembles that of an old studio film director’s than of a typical contemporary literary novelist, with certain themes and preoccupations reappearing across books of otherwise disparate subject matter.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Advertisement America’s preoccupation with the war on terror did squander its unipolar decade.
    — Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of preoccupation
Noun
  • Each loving gesture and bashful smile from his aspiring girlfriend Nikki is punctuated by dread, every minute tense and unnerving as her fixation slowly takes a dark turn.
    — Mariam Bagdady, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Jennifer Lopez anticipated Milan’s fixation before the shows were properly underway.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of fixation
Noun
  • Conahan, now 72, acknowledged having a bondage fetish in court but has always denied killing anyone.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, we’re presented with deviant men defined only by their fetishes, creating an uneasy imbalance that’s impossible to ignore.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of fetish
Noun
  • The Mayo Clinic defines the mental health condition as typically marked by hallucinations, delusions, depression, and mania.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The 57-year-old star kept the animal print mania going with her pointed-toe fuzzy leopard print slingback heels and held a microscopic black patent leather bag in one hand.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of mania
Noun
  • Spending has been helped by a strong stock market, which reflects enthusiasm over the prospects for artificial intelligence and which enriches wealthy investors and gives them more money to buy things with.
    — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • That level of enthusiasm underscores the power of personal agents and the promise that consumers and office workers will be able to use the technology to book travel, pay bills, respond to emails and perform many more tasks.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of enthusiasm

Browse Nearby Words

obsessing (over)
obsession
obsessional
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Obsession.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsession. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on obsession

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about obsession

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