psychological
adjective
psy·cho·log·i·cal
ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 
variants
or less commonly psychologic
1
a
: of or relating to psychology
psychological research
b
: of, relating to, or occurring in the mind : mental
psychological distress
psychological disorders
2
: directed toward, influencing, or acting on the mind especially in relation to an individual's willpower or behavioral motivation
psychological warfare
psychological strategies
psychologically
adverb
Since losing its Winston Cup [NASCAR] races, the town of North Wilkesboro has suffered economically and psychologically.
—
Derek H. Alderman et al.
Derek H. Alderman et al.
To gas light is to psychologically manipulate a person to the point where they question their own sanity …
—Lauren Duca
Lauren Duca
Examples of psychological in a Sentence
a psychological rather than a physical condition
suffered from psychological disorders all of his life
Recent Examples on the Web
Hartig lowered the bond for Goins from $111,000 cash or surety to a $20,000 personal bond about a week before the commission ordered that May 2024 psychological evaluation.
—Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Authenticity builds psychological safety, which Google’s Project Aristotle identified as the top characteristic of high-performing teams.
—Shikha Bajaj, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Because one of the best ways to honor Ryan, his parents believe, is to promote counseling and other vital resources for psychological well-being.
—Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2025
Children could face long-term effects from losing their sense of physical and psychological safety in a classroom, Andrews says.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for psychological
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Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Authenticity builds psychological safety, which Google’s Project Aristotle identified as the top characteristic of high-performing teams.
—Shikha Bajaj, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Because one of the best ways to honor Ryan, his parents believe, is to promote counseling and other vital resources for psychological well-being.
—Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2025
Children could face long-term effects from losing their sense of physical and psychological safety in a classroom, Andrews says.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for psychological
Cite this Entry
“Psychological.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychological. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
psychological
adjective
psy·cho·log·i·cal
ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl
variants
also psychologic
1
a
: of or relating to psychology
psychological research
b
: of, relating to, or occurring in the mind : mental
psychological distress
psychological disorders
2
: meant to influence the will or mind
psychological warfare
Medical Definition
psychological
adjective
psy·cho·log·i·cal
ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl
variants
also psychologic
1
a
: relating to, characteristic of, directed toward, influencing, arising in, or acting through the mind especially in its affective or cognitive functions
psychological phenomena
the psychological aspects of a problem
b
: directed toward, influencing, or acting on the mind especially in relation to an individual's willpower or behavioral motivation
psychological warfare
2
: relating to, concerned with, deriving from, or used in psychology
psychological research
psychological tests
a psychological clinic
psychologically
adverb
-ē
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