addiction

Meaning

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   A strong, compulsive physical or psychological need for a substance or behavior, despite harmful consequences.

   Grammar: Can name the general condition uncountably or a specific case countably; often followed by to: addiction to opioids, an addiction to gambling.

   Patterns

   • addiction to something
   • struggle with an addiction
   • overcome addiction

   Addiction can involve drugs, alcohol, gambling, or gaming.

   He sought help for his addiction to painkillers.

   The center treats addiction as a health condition, not a moral failure.

Word forms

Common combinations

drug addiction

Drug addiction affects families as well as individuals.

internet addiction

Parents worried about internet addiction limited screen time.

addiction treatment

She entered addiction treatment after talking with her doctor.

addiction recovery

Addiction recovery often requires long-term support.

Synonyms and how they differ

dependence

Dependence is the clinical term for reliance, especially on a substance; addiction can include compulsive behavior and harm.

compulsion

Compulsion names the urge to act; addiction is a broader pattern of need and continued use despite harm.

habit

Habit is weaker and neutral; addiction implies loss of control and serious consequences.

Word family

addict noun

a person unable to stop a harmful use or habit

addictive adjective

causing compulsion to continue

addicting adjective

informal adjective similar to addictive

Commonly confused: addiction or addition?

Practice

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