verb
obsess
uhb-SESS/əbˈses/
To occupy someone's mind or dwell on something persistently, often in a troubling way.
The unfinished puzzle obsesses the woman, distracting her through breakfast, work, and bedtime.
Etymology
Literally sitting opposite or against someone supplied the image of a siege. The meaning moved from besieging to haunting, then to a fixed idea that persistently troubles the mind.
In context
people such as myself have anxious attachment where we tend to obsess over our relationships and because we're so obsessed about them, we tend to do them harm
More examples
- Try not to obsess about things you cannot control.
- He spent the weekend obsessing over one awkward conversation.
- The unanswered question obsesses him for days.
Forms
obsess · obsesses · obsessed · obsessing
obsession noun — A persistent and often troubling preoccupation.
obsessive adjective — Persistently preoccupied with particular thoughts or concerns.
Similar words
- preoccupy
- Occupies someone's attention without necessarily causing distress or repetitive thinking.
- fixate
- Focuses rigidly on one thing, often overlooking everything else.
- brood
- Dwells unhappily on worries, disappointments, or past events.