OCD

abbreviation or noun

ˌō-ˌsē-ˈdē

: a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions or compulsions or both that cause significant distress, are time-consuming, and interfere with normal daily functioning : obsessive-compulsive disorder

The subjects of the experiment were 18 people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)—unwanted and pointless but irresistible intrusive thoughts (e.g., fear of contamination by germs) and repetitive actions (e.g., handwashing or change-counting).—The Harvard Medical School Mental Health Letter

OCD is a mental health condition that "involves both obsessions and compulsions that take up a lot of time and get in the way of important activities, such as school, family life, extracurricular activities, developing friendships, and self-care," according to the International OCD Foundation.—Sarah D. Collins

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

In a study posted to the preprint server bioRxiv last March, Dzirasa and his colleagues tested the tool in mice with a genetic mutation that caused repetitive grooming behaviors reminiscent of OCD. — Simon Makin, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2026 The assumption is that any psychiatric condition traces back to a single event, like a case of OCD explained by something that happened at age 4. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026 She was later also diagnosed with OCD and trichotillomania, a hair-pulling disorder associated with OCD and anxiety. — Nancy Jo Sales, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 What readers are saying The conversation explores the personal journey of the author in managing OCD, with many participants expressing admiration for the author's self-awareness and bravery in seeking help. — Eva Jaber, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for OCD

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OCD

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“OCD.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/OCD. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Medical Definition

OCD

abbreviation or noun

ˌō-ˌsē-ˈdē

Childhood and adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorders are sometimes seen in dermatology practice. When present, OCD is most frequently manifested in younger patients as trichotillomania …—J. Y. Koo and L. L. Smith, Pediatric Dermatology

… drugs such as Prozac help relieve the symptoms of OCD, but 90 percent of medicated patients relapse when the drugs are withdrawn. More effective is behavioral therapy, which has a cure rate of up to 80 percent.—Josie Glausiusz, Discover

OCD

abbreviation or noun

Examples of OCD in a Sentence

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