addictive
adjective
ad·dic·tive
ə-ˈdik-tiv
a-
: causing or characterized by addiction
an addictive drug
an addictive personality
Examples of addictive in a Sentence
highly addictive drugs like crack and heroin
the addictive thrill of surfing
Recent Examples on the Web
Locally sourced fish and addictive homemade cream pies are also on the menu.
—Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, Miller has rather cleverly figured out a healthy (and productive) way to satisfy his own addictive impulses.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2024
Nicotine—the addictive chemical contained in tobacco—is toxic, and even lethal, when orally ingested in high quantities.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024
In recent months, Instagram has become inundated with previews of short addictive dramas — soap operas for users with limited attention spans.
—Mike Isaac, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Plaintiffs alleged the company has built addictive features, compelling them to pay for upgrades.
—Tatum Hunter, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
Nicotine is highly addictive, and just 5 milligrams a day is enough to start an addiction.6
While all the potential long-term health effects of Zyn aren’t fully known yet, parents and teens should take caution.
—Christina Montoya Fiedler, Parents, 23 Feb. 2024
But the maddeningly addictive Balatro has become a sleeper hit on games service Steam following its full release this week.
—Barry Collins, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
But while the advantages of the sport are universal—and entirely unrelated to the price of your bike—those enthusiasts willing to spend can majorly amplify what can quickly become an addictive and all-consuming pastime.
—Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'addictive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1891, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near addictive
Cite this Entry
“Addictive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/addictive. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.
Kids Definition
addictive
adjective
ad·dic·tive
ə-ˈdik-tiv
a-
: causing or characterized by addiction
an addictive drug
an addictive game
Medical Definition
addictive
adjective
ad·dic·tive
ə-ˈdik-tiv
: causing or characterized by addiction
addictive drugs
Legal Definition
addictive
adjective
ad·dic·tive
ə-ˈdik-tiv
: causing or characterized by addiction
addictive drugs
More from Merriam-Webster on addictive
Nglish: Translation of addictive for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of addictive for Arabic Speakers
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