OBSESSION: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for OBSESSION?

Need another word that means the same as “obsession”? Find 12 synonyms and 30 related words for “obsession” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Obsession” are: compulsion, fixation, ruling passion, passion, mania, preoccupation, enthusiasm, infatuation, addiction, fetish, craze, hobby horse

Obsession as a Noun

Definitions of "Obsession" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “obsession” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• An unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone.
• The state of being obsessed with someone or something.
• An irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions, even against your will.
• An idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person's mind.

Synonyms of "Obsession" as a noun (12 Words)

addiction	(Roman law) a formal award by a magistrate of a thing or person to another person (as the award of a debtor to his creditor); a surrender to a master. Under Roman law addiction was the justification for slavery.
compulsion	The action or state of forcing or being forced to do something; constraint. The payment was made under compulsion.
craze	A fine crack in a glaze or other surface. The new craze for step aerobics.
enthusiasm	Something that arouses enthusiasm. The three enthusiasms of his life were politics religion and books.
fetish	An excessive and irrational devotion or commitment to a particular thing. The western fetish for all things North African.
fixation	The action of concentrating the eyes directly on something. His work on nitrogen fixation in plants.
hobby horse	Small Old World falcon formerly trained and flown at small birds.
infatuation	An object of extravagant short-lived passion. I hope this is merely a passing infatuation.
mania	A mood disorder; an affective disorder in which the victim tends to respond excessively and sometimes violently. Many people suffering from mania do not think anything is wrong.
passion	Something that is desired intensely. Modern furniture is a particular passion of Bill s.
preoccupation	The mental state of being preoccupied by something. His preoccupation with politics.
ruling passion	The reason for a court’s judgment (as opposed to the decision itself.

Usage Examples of "Obsession" as a noun

• He was in the grip of an obsession he was powerless to resist.
• She cared for him with a devotion bordering on obsession.

Associations of "Obsession" (30 Words)

abduction	The movement of a limb or other part away from the midline of the body, or from another part. They organized the abduction of Mr Cordes on his way to the airport.
accusative	A word in the accusative case. Accusative endings.
acquisitive	Excessively interested in acquiring money or material things. An acquisitive society in which the craving for material things seems never satisfied.
coercion	The act of compelling by force of authority. They didn t have to use coercion.
compulsion	Using force to cause something to occur. Though pressed into rugby under compulsion I began to enjoy the game.
compulsory	Required by law or a rule; obligatory. Compulsory military service.
confinement	The act of restraining of a person’s liberty by confining them. He was immediately released from his confinement.
control	Control others or oneself or influence skillfully usually to one s advantage. They wanted to repeal all the legislation that imposed economic controls.
disarmament	Act of reducing or depriving of arms. Disarmament treaties between America and the former Soviet Union.
dispossess	Deprive (someone) of land, property, or other possessions. They were dispossessed of lands and properties during the Reformation.
dotage	The period of life in which a person is old and weak. You could live here and look after me in my dotage.
duress	Forcible restraint or imprisonment. Confessions extracted under duress.
fetish	A form of sexual desire in which gratification is linked to an abnormal degree to a particular object, item of clothing, part of the body, etc. A man with a fetish for surgical masks.
fixation	An obsessive interest in or feeling about someone or something. During the period of total blindness there was a complete absence of visual fixation.
force	Urge or force a person to an action constrain or motivate. She forced her diet fads on him.
forcible	Done by force. Forcible entry.
genitive	A word in the genitive case. The genitive endings.
infatuation	An intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone or something. The thrill of infatuation.
infirmity	Physical or mental weakness. Old age and infirmity come to men and women alike.
longing	Having or showing a yearning desire. Her longing eyes.
morbid	Characterized by an abnormal and unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, especially death and disease. A morbid growth.
pathological	Caused by or evidencing a mentally disturbed condition. A pathological liar.
possessive	The possessive case. A possessive parent.
preoccupation	The act of taking occupancy before someone else does. His preoccupation with politics.
selfish	Concerned chiefly or only with yourself and your advantage to the exclusion of others- Maria Weston Chapman. I joined them for selfish reasons.
senile	(of a condition) characteristic of or caused by old age. She couldn t cope with her senile husband.
senility	The condition of being senile. The onset of senility.
sickness	The feeling or fact of being affected with nausea or vomiting. She felt a wave of sickness wash over her.
unrequited	(of a feeling, especially love) not returned. Unrequited unanswered love.