addicted

adjective

ad·​dict·​ed ə-ˈdik-təd How to pronounce addicted (audio)
: having an addiction:
a
: exhibiting a compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity
addicted to heroin/alcohol/gambling
addicted smokers
b
: strongly inclined to do, use, or indulge in something repeatedly
I'm addicted to great tomatoes, so I started two French varieties from seed and gave fully a third of my garden to them.Chris Jerome
Like Sherlock Holmes, Maigret is perceived by addicted readers as a historical figure rather than a creature of fiction …Mavis Gallant

Examples of addicted in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web No one knows what’s really going on over there, but one thing is for sure: Ye is addicted to drama. Angel Diaz, Billboard, 14 Mar. 2024 Hundreds of people who are addicted to the powerful opioid—which is 50 times stronger than heroin—live and die on these streets. Seyward Darby, Longreads, 29 Jan. 2024 Biden was charged under a statute forbidding people who are addicted to narcotics from owning firearms. USA TODAY, 17 Jan. 2024 The long notes ended after her father became addicted to menthols, developed debilitating respiratory problems and died at age 73 from lung and throat cancer. USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024 Tension between the families has risen, and in January, the two presidents publicly traded barbs, accusing one another of being addicted to drugs. Regine Cabato, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 The problem is compounded by the fact that investors and businesses have become addicted to near zero or at zero interest rates. Ron Paul, Orange County Register, 5 Mar. 2024 Menthol also can enhance the effects of nicotine on the brain, making cigarettes easier to become addicted to and harder to quit, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 19 Jan. 2024 The commission will assess whether the company, which is owned by China’s ByteDance, is complying with requirements for large social media platforms to mitigate the risk of users becoming addicted to their content and to safeguard minors’ privacy and safety. Anna Cooban, CNN, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'addicted.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of addict entry 2

First Known Use

1546, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of addicted was in 1546

Dictionary Entries Near addicted

Cite this Entry

“Addicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/addicted. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!