adjective
addictive
uh-DIHK-tihv
adjective
1
Causing a strong dependency, so that a person finds it hard to stop.
"Nicotine is highly addictive."
"Some games are designed with addictive reward loops to keep players hooked."
2
So enjoyable that one keeps wanting more of it.
"This show is addictive — I watched all ten episodes in one night."
"The song has an addictive chorus that gets stuck in your head."
How to Use Addictive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething that makes you want to keep coming back, whether a drug or just a compelling habit.
Common pairings
highly addictive
addictive game
addictive substance
Word Forms
more addictive comparative, addictives plural, most addictive superlative
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Nicotine is highly _____.
Etymology
First recorded in the early twentieth century, alongside the modern sense of "addiction," which had earlier been used mainly of opium.