Besetting
Besetting adjective - Caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge.
Usage example: that woman's besetting need to meddle in the affairs of others
Compulsive is a synonym for besetting in inveterate topic. In some cases you can use "Compulsive" instead an adjective "Besetting". popular alternative
Compulsive
Compulsive adjective - Caused by or suggestive of an irresistible urge.
Usage example: his compulsive clowning around can sometimes be annoying
Besetting is a synonym for compulsive in irresistible topic. You can use "Besetting" instead an adjective "Compulsive", if it concerns topics such as driving. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- passionate and besetting
- passionate and compulsive
- impulsive and besetting
- impulsive and compulsive
- habitual and besetting
- habitual and compulsive
- enthusiastic and besetting
- enthusiastic and compulsive
- irresistible and besetting
- irresistible and compulsive
- urgent and besetting
- urgent and compulsive
- persistent and besetting
- persistent and compulsive
Cite this Source
Compulsive and Besetting. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/besetting/compulsive
Besetting & Compulsive. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/besetting/compulsive>.
Compulsive or Besetting. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/besetting/compulsive.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "besetting" and "compulsive" have occurred on timeline