Addictive is an adjective describing something that tends to cause a strong, habitual engagement or craving. It can also refer to substances or behaviors that produce dependence. The pronunciation emphasizes the first syllable with a clear, unstressed ending, and the word ends with an /ɪv/ sound that links to the preceding /t/ via a light, quick transition.
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"Video games can be highly addictive, keeping players returning for just one more level."
"Nicotine is an addictive substance that many people struggle to quit."
"Some people find social media addictive because it rewards constant feedback and novelty."
"The documentary warned about the addictive nature of certain drugs and their impact on families."
The word addictive derives from the late 16th century Latin addictivus, from addicere ‘to appoint, devote, enroll’ (a derivative of ad- ‘toward’ + dicere ‘to say, declare’). The English form appeared by the 17th century, evolving from the sense of causing or tending to cause dependency or habit. In the 19th–20th centuries, chemical dependencies and behavioral dependencies expanded the standard meaning, aligning it with substances or activities that provoke craving and habitual use. The modern usage routinely contrasts with non-addictive or habit-forming behaviors, highlighting the spectrum of dependence from mild to severe. First known use around the late 1600s to early 1700s, with literary and medical texts solidifying the term’s association with psychological or physiological dependence.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "addictive" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "addictive" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "addictive"
-ive sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as ə-DIK-tiv with primary stress on the second syllable. Phonemes: /ə/ (schwa), /ˈdɪk/ (stressed vowel-consonant cluster), /tɪv/ final. Mouth: start relaxed for /ə/, then lift the tongue to place /d/ at alveolar ridge, move quickly to /ɪ/ value, end with /v/ or /f/ release depending on surrounding sounds. Audio reference: you can compare with /ˈhæb.ɪtˌuːn/ in related words, but addictive centers on /ˈdɪk/.
Common errors: misplacing stress to the first syllable (a-DIC-tive) or pronouncing /t/ as a stop before /ɪ/ leading to /ˈdɪk.tɪv/ with awkward tap. Another error is voicing the final /v/ as /f/ in rapid speech. Correction: keep primary stress on /ˈdɪk/, ensure the /t/ links cleanly to /ɪ/ without an extra vowel, and produce a voiced /v/ at the end, not voiceless /f/ unless connected to voiceless consonants.
US/UK/AU share /əˈdɪk.tɪv/ with rhotic or non-rhotic tendencies. US tends to a clear rhotic /r/ only when followed by a vowel in connected speech; here /r/ is not present. UK (non-rhotic) often keeps /əˈdɪk.tɪv/ without an /r/-like quality. Australian mirrors UK in being non-rhotic and may have slightly flatter vowels, with /ɪ/ closer to schwa in rapid speech. In all, the primary stress remains on the second syllable; subtle vowel quality differences occur in /ɪ/ and /ɪv/ transitions.
Two main challenges: the consonant cluster /d/ + /k/ before a short /ɪ/ creates a brief pause if you mis-tap, and the final /v/ must be voiced, not devoiced to /f/ in fluent speech. The weak structure of the final syllable /tɪv/ can cause vowel reduction or elongation; keep /ɪ/ crisp and immediately release into /v/. Practicing the sequence /ɪk.tɪ/ helps stabilize the rapid transition.
A unique trait is the interaction between the /k/ and the following /t/ in the /dɪk/ cluster. Avoid inserting an extra vowel between /d/ and /k/—keep them adjacent as /dɪk/. Also, maintain the unstressed schwa in the initial syllable before the stressed /dɪk/. This prevents a clipped first syllable and preserves natural rhythm in connected speech.
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