as in attracts
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 obsesses
While Russia obsesses over Ukraine, its erstwhile friends and clients are quietly slipping away.
—
Jeremy Shapiro, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
The band’s manager obsesses over social-media impressions.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Jeremy Shapiro, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
The band’s manager obsesses over social-media impressions.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsesses
Verb
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Cape marigold flowers resemble large daisies with vibrant orange, yellow, purple, pink, or white ray petals surrounding a pollen-rich eye that attracts bees and butterflies.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
15 Sep. 2025
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And the startup not only attracts speculators directly on its website and mobile app, but also white labels its markets to brokers like Robinhood and Webull, adding liquidity and scale.—
Alicia Park,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Is there one that particularly fascinates you?—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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At the very least, the prospect of doing more with younger Ed and Lorraine intrigues the performers.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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There’s something about childhood and adolescence — and the wounds that form during those years, which in some way stay with us for life — that really intrigues me.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Chances are, there’s a book on a topic that interests you.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
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Scroll to any Week 1 college football game that interests you and click to view the popular options.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obsesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsesses. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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