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verb

ossessionare

obsess

Definition & meaning

Ossessionare means to obsess, haunt, or preoccupy someone persistently. It can describe a thought, fear, or desire that is difficult to dismiss, or a person who repeatedly bothers someone.

  • Quel pensiero lo ossessiona. — That thought haunts him.
  • Mi ossessiona con le sue richieste. — He keeps pestering me with his requests.

The reflexive form ossessionarsi means “to become obsessed” or “to worry excessively.”

Grammar & Word origin

Ossessionare is a regular first-conjugation verb ending in -are. It is usually transitive: the thing or person causing the obsession acts on someone.

It comes from ossessione (“obsession”), ultimately from Latin obsessio, meaning “siege” or “being besieged.”

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

  • tormentare — to torment; emphasizes the distress caused.
  • assillare — to pester or plague; emphasizes persistent pressure or worry.
  • perseguitare — to persecute or haunt; can suggest persistent pursuit.

Antonyms

  • rasserenare — to calm or reassure, rather than cause persistent distress.
  • tranquillizzare — to put someone at ease.

Common phrases & collocations

  • ossessionare qualcuno — to obsess or pester someone.
  • essere ossessionato da qualcosa — to be obsessed with or haunted by something.
  • ossessionarsi con qualcosa — to become obsessed with something.

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Examples

Non voglio ossessionare i miei amici con questo gioco.verb

I don't want to obsess my friends with this game.

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