obsessional
obsessional Lexical Profile
obsessional Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to, characterized by, or resulting from an obsession; continually preoccupied with a particular thought, activity, or desire (especially in clinical psychology).
"The therapist helped the patient identify and manage her obsessional patterns of thought before they escalated into severe anxiety."
• noun
A person who suffers from or exhibits obsessional thoughts, tendencies, or neurosis.
"In classic psychoanalytic literature, the obsessional often struggles with intense feelings of doubt and an excessive need for order."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'obsessive' and 'obsessional' overlap in general use, 'obsessional' is more frequently preferred in clinical psychiatry and psychoanalysis to describe the nature of specific thoughts, symptoms, or personality structures, whereas 'obsessive' is the standard everyday choice.
• Rhymes for obsessional
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the late 19th century from 'obsession' plus the adjectival suffix '-al', ultimately deriving from the Latin 'obsessio', meaning a blockade or siege.