addiction
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for addiction, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A strong, often harmful, compulsion to keep using a substance or repeating a behavior, even when it causes problems.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use addiction
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From addict plus -ion. Ultimately from Latin addictio, originally a legal term for a court "awarding" someone as bound to another's service.
Full origin of addiction →Frequently asked questions
What does “addiction” mean?
The word “addiction” means a strong, often harmful, compulsion to keep using a substance or repeating a behavior, even when it causes problems. In plain terms, a compulsive dependency on something that's hard to give up despite the harm it causes.
How do you pronounce “addiction”?
“Addiction” is pronounced uh-DIHK-shuhn (/əˈdɪkˌʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “addiction” in a sentence?
Here is “addiction” used in a sentence: “His addiction to alcohol cost him his job.”
What part of speech is “addiction”?
“Addiction” is a noun.
Where does the word “addiction” come from?
The word “addiction” comes from Latin. From addict plus -ion. Ultimately from Latin addictio, originally a legal term for a court "awarding" someone as bound to another's service.
Is “addiction” a common word?
“Addiction” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between an addiction and a habit?
A habit is a routine behaviour you can usually stop without much difficulty, while an addiction is a strong, often harmful compulsion that continues even when it causes clear problems. The defining feature of addiction is the loss of control: the person keeps using a substance or repeating a behaviour despite the damage it does.
What is the difference between addiction and dependence?
Dependence describes the body needing a substance to function normally, often producing withdrawal symptoms when it is stopped. Addiction is broader, involving a compulsive drive to keep using or repeating something despite harmful consequences, and it can apply to behaviours as well as substances.
Can you have an addiction to a behaviour rather than a substance?
Yes. Addiction refers to a compulsion to keep repeating a behaviour, not only to using a substance, so people speak of gambling, gaming, or shopping addictions. The common thread is that the behaviour is continued even when it causes problems.
What preposition follows addiction?
Addiction is normally followed by "to": an addiction to nicotine, an addiction to gambling. You would not say "addiction of" a substance.