Obsessions: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'obsessions' when talking about something that dominates a person's thoughts and feelings to an unhealthy degree.

• She has obsessions about cleanliness and washes her hands constantly

Use 'fixation' when describing an intense focus on something or someone, often to an excessive or unhealthy degree.

• His fixation on his work made it difficult for him to relax and enjoy his free time

Use 'compulsion' when referring to a strong, often irresistible urge to perform an action, typically one that is unnecessary or irrational.

• He felt a compulsion to check the door locks multiple times before going to bed

Use 'preoccupation' when talking about something that occupies someone's thoughts to the point where they cannot pay attention to other things.

• Her preoccupation with her upcoming exam made it hard for her to concentrate on anything else

Used to describe a state of being completely fixated on something, often to an unhealthy degree.

• Her obsession with cleanliness made it difficult for guests to feel comfortable in her home

Refers to a strong, barely controllable emotion or enthusiasm for something or someone, usually positive.

• Her passion for painting is evident in every piece of art she creates

Best used to describe an extreme enthusiasm or preoccupation with something, often used in a negative context.

• His mania for gambling led him into serious debt

Typically used to describe an intense but short-lived admiration for someone or something, often seen as irrational or overly intense.

• His infatuation with his coworker faded after he got to know her better