antipsychotic

noun

an·​ti·​psy·​chot·​ic ˌan-tē-sī-ˈkä-tik 

ˌan-tī-

: any of the powerful tranquilizers (such as the phenothiazines and butyrophenones) used especially to treat psychosis and believed to act by blocking dopamine nervous receptors

called also neuroleptic

antipsychotic adjective

Examples of antipsychotic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Alcohol and recreational drugs, as well as certain medications used to treat mental illness, such as antidepressants, tranquilizers and antipsychotics, also appear to increase mental health vulnerability to heat. —Madhusree Mukerjee, Scientific American, 2 June 2025

Matthew Purdy suffers from schizophrenia and an antipsychotic is among the medications he has been prescribed at the Tarrant County Jail. —Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 May 2025

Metabolic Changes Taking atypical antipsychotics, including Abilify, may cause metabolic changes. —Mary Choy, Verywell Health, 16 Apr. 2025

The report noted the use of stimulant drugs, antidepressants, antipsychotics and asthma medications have all increased among children within the past 30 or so years. —Joseph Choi, The Hill, 22 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for antipsychotic

• antibiotic
• antithrombotic
• epizootic
• homoerotic
• psychoneurotic
• unpatriotic
• xenobiotic
• abiotic
• aeronautic
• apoptotic
• asymptotic
• cyanotic

Medical Definition

antipsychotic

1 of 2 adjective

an·​ti·​psy·​chot·​ic ˌant-i-sī-ˈkät-ik, ˌan-ˌtī- 

: of, being, or involving the use of an antipsychotic

antipsychotic drugs

antipsychotic

2 of 2 noun

: any of the powerful tranquilizers (as the phenothiazines or butyrophenones) used especially to treat psychosis and believed to act by blocking dopamine nervous receptors

called also neuroleptic