addictive

adjective

ad·​dic·​tive ə-ˈdik-tiv How to pronounce addictive (audio)
a-
Synonyms of addictive
: causing or characterized by addiction
an addictive drug
an addictive personality

Synonyms of addictive

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Examples of addictive in a Sentence

highly addictive drugs like crack and heroin the addictive thrill of surfing
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Mobile sports betting – a solo activity where an essentially frictionless interface combined with potentially drastic financial ramification can have addictive or disastrous impact – is booming. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 According to The New York Times, Meta and other tech companies, including YouTube, TikTok, and Snap, have thousands of cases open across multiple states that allege the platforms are addictive for children. — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 2 Sep. 2026 But sports bettors have already filed lawsuits arguing that sports-betting apps are addictive and cause harm. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Sep. 2026 California lawmakers advance sweeping bills to curb Big Tech’s power, targeting addictive social media, artificial intelligence in the workplace and voracious data centers amid mounting public anxiety over technology’s harms. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for addictive

Word History

Etymology

addict entry 2 + -ive

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of addictive was in 1891

Rhymes for addictive

See All Rhymes for addictive

Browse Nearby Words

addiction
addictive
add-in
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Addictive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/addictive. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

addictive

adjective
ad·​dic·​tive ə-ˈdik-tiv How to pronounce addictive (audio)
a-
: causing or characterized by addiction
an addictive drug
an addictive game

Medical Definition

addictive

adjective
ad·​dic·​tive ə-ˈdik-tiv How to pronounce addictive (audio)
: causing or characterized by addiction
addictive drugs

Legal Definition

addictive

adjective
ad·​dic·​tive ə-ˈdik-tiv How to pronounce addictive (audio)
: causing or characterized by addiction
addictive drugs
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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