dysmorphia

American  

[dis-mawr-fee-uh] / dɪsˈmɔr fi ə /

noun

1. dysmorphism.

2. body dysmorphic disorder.

3. muscle dysmorphia.

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Other Word Forms

• dysmorphic adjective

Etymology

Origin of dysmorphia

First recorded in 1845–50; from Greek dysmorphía “misshapenness, ugliness,” equivalent to prefix dys- “hard, bad, unlucky” + morphḗ “form, shape” + -ía abstract noun suffix; see origin at dys- ( def. ), -morph ( def. ), -ia ( def. )

Example Sentences

Kaley has since been diagnosed with body dysmorphia, a condition which causes people to worry excessively about their physical appearance and do not see themselves as others do.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

She also testified that her older sister suffered from an eating disorder — details the defense sought to portray as the source of her body dysmorphia.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

“It kind of affected me, but I already had body dysmorphia symptoms long before she started showing symptoms of an eating disorder,” Kaley said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

The plaintiff’s former therapist, Victoria Burke, testified that she diagnosed Kaley with body dysmorphia and social phobia, a type of anxiety disorder, in her early teens.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Whaite explained he has bulimia, an eating disorder, and body dysmorphia, where a person perceives defects in their own body which are often less noticeable to others.

From BBC • Nov. 17, 2025