as in to attract
to hold one's attention to an extreme degree
The TV show obsessed me so much that I was up all night watching.
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Recent Examples of obsess
Another destination perfect for families with children—especially those obsessed with space—is the California Science Center, where admission to the permanent galleries is always free.
—
Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
For months, Johnson obsessed over the case, reading dozens of news reports, often glued to his phone until one of his children would interrupt him to play.
—Jesse Bedayn, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
The siblings are taken under the wing of a wealthy couple, and one of the sisters soon becomes obsessed with the wife.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 5 Feb. 2026
Darnold learned to fix a mistake and flush it, rather than obsess over it.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obsess
Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
For months, Johnson obsessed over the case, reading dozens of news reports, often glued to his phone until one of his children would interrupt him to play.
—Jesse Bedayn, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
The siblings are taken under the wing of a wealthy couple, and one of the sisters soon becomes obsessed with the wife.
—Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 5 Feb. 2026
Darnold learned to fix a mistake and flush it, rather than obsess over it.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obsess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsess
Verb
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Clegg said judges got creative to attract attorneys.—
Raynee Howell,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Feb. 2026
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Articles supporting the city’s democracy movement, including antigovernment protests that rocked the city in 2019, attracted many pro-democracy readers.—
Kanis Leung,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In Brazil, the debate on narcoterrorism, even after Furtado’s bill was back on the table, seemed not to interest the main figures of the country’s far right.—
Evandro Cruz Silva,
The Dial,
10 Feb. 2026
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That doesn’t interest me as a writer.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This is Taymor’s first production to embark on a national tour, and she’s been fascinated by the range of audience responses.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
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From legal aspirations to a life of art As a girl, I was fascinated by color, texture and creative expressions.—
Anya Sesay,
jsonline.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For several months, a mysterious sign displayed in the windows of vacant storefront in Shorewood has intrigued passersby along Capitol Drive.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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The dancing and costumes took me back to being a young teen watching the airbrushed sultriness of early-2000s MTV and being intrigued by the world that allegedly existed somewhere outside my home.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obsess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsess. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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