neurotic

¹

[ noo-rot-ik, nyoo- ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of neurosis.

noun

1. a neurotic person.

neurotic

²

[ noo-rot-ik, nyoo- ]

adjective

, Pathology.

1. pertaining to the nerves or to nerve disease; neural: no longer in technical use.

neurotic

/ njʊˈrɒtɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or afflicted by neurosis

noun

1. a person who is afflicted with a neurosis or who tends to be emotionally unstable or unusually anxious

Derived Forms

• neuˈrotically, adverb

Other Words From

• neu·rotic·al·ly adverb
• semi·neu·roti·cal·ly adverb
• unneu·roti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of neurotic¹

First recorded in 1870–75; neur(osis) + -otic

Origin of neurotic²

First recorded in 1765–75; neuro- + -tic

Example Sentences

We are ultrarunners, backcountry skiers, parents to neurotic dogs.

From Outside Online

After Monday’s column on my dog Archie’s separation anxiety, I think I could assemble an entire pack of neurotic pooches.

From Washington Post

For instance, firstborn children in this data set might be a little more cautious, but they were also less neurotic than later-born children.

From Time

I was also fearful of failure, neurotic, a perfectionist, ambitious—undoubtedly to the point of being unbearable.

From Time

With a narrative whipsawing among four neurotic protagonists, “Paradise, Nevada” charts a collision course through the gaming industry, grappling with Vegas’s objectifying entertainment complex and accelerating tech sphere.

From Washington Post

It was quite interesting, its title was Rejoice That You Are Neurotic.

From The Daily Beast

As a result, Akerman said CrowdMed may appeal to the more neurotic of us who wish to be “armchair physicians.”

From The Daily Beast

In the early 1900s, Sigmund Freud began to explore in earnest the similarities between neurotic behavior and ritual.

From The Daily Beast

You give the weakest and the worst interpretation of my devotion: the neurotic one.

From The Daily Beast

Equal parts compassionate and neurotic, Farmiga plays Norma with an intense level of adrenaline.

From The Daily Beast

Here is my pet theory of the gouty origin of neurasthenia and perhaps Beard's neurotic constitution, beloved of rhinologists.

From Project Gutenberg

Neurotic tendencies which unfit women for marriage—the desire for domination.

From Project Gutenberg

Sexual anæsthesia another neurotic trait which interferes with marital harmony.

From Project Gutenberg

She glared at him with the wild look that frequently comes to the hysterical or neurotic woman's eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

The condition is probably of neurotic origin and tends to recur.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• compulsive
• distraught
• disturbed
• manic
• obsessive