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Compulsive vs Addict - What's the difference?

compulsive | addict |

As nouns the difference between compulsive and addict

is that compulsive is one who exhibits compulsive behaviours while addict is a person who is addicted, especially to a harmful drug.

As an adjective compulsive

is uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious.

As a verb addict is

to cause someone to become addicted, especially to a harmful drug.

compulsive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious
  • * 1990 , :
  • Under this Act, the term "disability" shall not include—...(2) compulsive gambling, kleptomania, or pyromania; or...
  • Having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion.
  • * Sharp
  • Religion is inconsistent with all compulsive motives.

    Derived terms

    * compulsiveness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who exhibits compulsive behaviours.
  • addict

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person who is addicted, especially to a harmful drug
  • * He is an addict when it comes to chocolate cookies.
  • An adherent or fan (of something)
  • Derived terms

    * cyberaddict * drug addict * sex addict

    Synonyms

    * (person who is addicted) junkie (one addicted to a drug), slave * (adherent or fan) adherent, aficionado, devotee, enthusiast, fan, habitue * See also

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cause someone to become addicted, especially to a harmful drug
  • To involve oneself in something habitually, to the exclusion of almost anything else.
  • * (rfdate), (John Evelyn)
  • They addict themselves to the civil law.
  • * (rfdate) (Francis Beaumont) &
  • He is addicted to his study.
  • * (rfdate) (Adventurer)
  • That part of mankind that addict their minds to speculations.
  • * (rfdate) (Thomas Fuller)
  • His genius addicted him to the study of antiquity.
  • * (rfdate), (Thomas Babington Macaulay)
  • A man gross ... and addicted to low company.
  • (obsolete) To adapt; to make suitable; to fit.
  • * (rfdate) (John Evelyn)
  • * The land about is exceedingly addicted to wood, but the coldness of the place hinders the growth.
  • Synonyms

    * get (someone) hooked * (devote) consecrate, dedicate, devote * (adapt) adapt, fit

    Derived terms

    * addicting * addictive

    Anagrams

    * English heteronyms