as in obsession
something about which one is constantly thinking or concerned
the future entomologist's preoccupation with insects from a very early age
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Recent Examples of preoccupation
This preoccupation misses the elephant in the room: the disintegration or collapse of the Black family, the prime engine for inculcating behavioral norms indispensable to success.
—
Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2025
But there’s nothing conscious on my part about ongoing preoccupations or consistencies or running themes or any of that.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
But that preoccupation has become even more central as high youth unemployment, soaring foreclosures and deteriorating international relations have fueled widespread anxiety about China’s future.
—Vivian Wang, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
In general, Smith warns, this rising preoccupation with the speed of election results is not necessary as long as results come for when lawmakers need to be sworn in.
—Ashley Lopez, NPR, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for preoccupation 
Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2025
But there’s nothing conscious on my part about ongoing preoccupations or consistencies or running themes or any of that.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
But that preoccupation has become even more central as high youth unemployment, soaring foreclosures and deteriorating international relations have fueled widespread anxiety about China’s future.
—Vivian Wang, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
In general, Smith warns, this rising preoccupation with the speed of election results is not necessary as long as results come for when lawmakers need to be sworn in.
—Ashley Lopez, NPR, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for preoccupation
Thesaurus Entries Near preoccupation
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupation. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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