addictive, a.
(əˈdɪktɪv)
[f. addict v. + -ive.]
Of a drug, etc.: to which one may become addicted; causing dependence, habit-forming; = addicting ppl. a.
| 1939 Harper's Mag. Nov. 644 A chemico-pharmacological search for non-addicting drugs to replace morphine and the other addictive ones. 1969 Daily Tel. 27 Aug. 15/1 Cannabis is not addictive in the same way that morphine, alcohol or barbiturates are. 1982 Fisher & Christie Dict. Drugs (rev. ed.) 61 Amphetamine and the barbiturates are much less used now in part because they are potentially addictive. |
Hence aˈddictiveness [-ness], the quality of being addictive.
| 1977 Sci. Amer. Mar. 44/1 The toxicity and addictiveness of morphine were recognized only after the drug had become an established feature of clinical medicine. 1984 N.Y. Times 29 Aug. a23/5 If the addictiveness of smoking could be proved, the voluntary risk defense would be threatened. |
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Add: b. transf. Characterized by or causing addiction to some object, activity, etc.; that promotes or exhibits habituation.
| 1974 Psychol. Rev. LXXXI. 125 The duckling is exhibiting all criteria for addictive behavior. It is ‘hooked’ on the imprinting object. 1975 Economist 4 Jan. 60/4 Leisure surveys show television to be equally addictive to both sexes. 1983 Washington Post 3 Apr. l1/1 Just as eating chocolate tends to be addictive, so does working with it. |