as in attracting
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 obsessing
However, a teenager might simply identify sentences and structure, but after several years of living, loving and obsessing over someone with tousled hair, that now-adult might find their experiences affirmed, perhaps even blatantly, through a 178-year-old novel.
—
Hannah Benson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
No point obsessing on it, anyway.
—Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
Bradley is largely concerned with perfecting his golf game; Linda spends her off hours obsessing over the TV show Survivor.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
Likewise, Shaid Shah, one of the most senior execs at Mars—the powerhouse behind household brands like Dolmio—said the best career hack is to stop obsessing over getting that promotion or dream job title, and embrace the many steps in between that get you there.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026
The mornings are frosty and flannels are back in rotation, which means skiers are pulling their gear out of storage and obsessing over ski pass options.
—Evie Carrick, Outside, 8 Jan. 2026
While hitting such a peak in the band’s career, Montenegro started obsessing over the future.
—Leonor C. Suárez, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2026
Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer became an Emmy-winning cult sensation, with fans obsessing over every battle, outfit, love triangle, and snappy Buffy-ism.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
What are some ways to start thinking about dying and death without obsessing about it?
—Malaka Gharib, NPR, 30 Dec. 2025
Hannah Benson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
No point obsessing on it, anyway.
—Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
Bradley is largely concerned with perfecting his golf game; Linda spends her off hours obsessing over the TV show Survivor.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
Likewise, Shaid Shah, one of the most senior execs at Mars—the powerhouse behind household brands like Dolmio—said the best career hack is to stop obsessing over getting that promotion or dream job title, and embrace the many steps in between that get you there.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026
The mornings are frosty and flannels are back in rotation, which means skiers are pulling their gear out of storage and obsessing over ski pass options.
—Evie Carrick, Outside, 8 Jan. 2026
While hitting such a peak in the band’s career, Montenegro started obsessing over the future.
—Leonor C. Suárez, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2026
Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer became an Emmy-winning cult sensation, with fans obsessing over every battle, outfit, love triangle, and snappy Buffy-ism.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
What are some ways to start thinking about dying and death without obsessing about it?
—Malaka Gharib, NPR, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsessing
Verb
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The plan also aims to bolster Maryland's revenue by attracting new industries.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
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These days, the far left is attracting a lot of the party’s money, media attention, and crowds.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Our guide to the best upcoming sci-fi movies in 2026 features a blockbuster mix of popular franchises, intriguing one-offs, and one of the greatest directors of all time heading back to alien visitation territory.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
31 Dec. 2025
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New York has intriguing young outfielders in Jasson Domínguez and Spencer jones, but Bellinger was the team's second best player in the lineup this season.—
Shaun McAvoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.—
Glenn Peoples,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obsessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsessing. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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