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Compelling vs Compulsive - What's the difference?

compelling | compulsive |

As adjectives the difference between compelling and compulsive

is that compelling is requiring urgent attention while compulsive is uncontrolled or reactive and unconscious.

As a verb compelling

is present participle of lang=en.

As a noun compulsive is

one who exhibits compulsive behaviours.

compelling

English

Verb

(head)
  • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Requiring urgent attention.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-21, author=(Oliver Burkeman)
  • , volume=189, issue=2, page=27, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= The tao of tech , passage=The dirty secret of the internet is that all this distraction and interruption is immensely profitable. Web companies like to boast about "creating compelling content", or offering services that let you "stay up to date with what your friends are doing", "share the things you love with the world" and so on.}}
  • Forceful.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 29, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC Sport
  • , title= Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal , passage=Terry's goal looked to have put Chelsea in control on the stroke of half-time but Arsenal's response presented a compelling case for Wenger's insistence that reports of his side's demise have been greatly exaggerated.}}

    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.