psychopath

noun

psy·​cho·​path ˈsī-kə-ˌpath How to pronounce psychopath (audio)
ˈsī-kō-
: a mentally unstable person
especially : a person having an egocentric and antisocial personality marked by a lack of remorse for one's actions, an absence of empathy for others, and often criminal tendencies

Examples of psychopath in a Sentence

declared that he was a dangerous psychopath
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
These women then turn out to be psychopaths who want to kill Carol and breed with Ash in order to, uh, rebuild society or something? Erik Kain, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 Mid-way through the Christmas-set Terrifier 3, Thornton's jubilant psychopath creates a new torture instrument, a tank of liquid nitrogen rigged with a projectile funnel. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 12 Oct. 2024 The amygdala, which processes fear, is less reactive in psychopaths. Gautam Mukunda, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024 Euphoria’s resident narcissist psychopath Jacob Elordi will play Heathcliff opposite Barbie girl Margot Robbie’s it’s-me-I’m-Cathy in the latest adaptation of Emily Brontë’s romantic tale (or brutally vengeful, horrifying, supernatural Gothic masterpiece, depending on your standpoint). Raven Smith, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for psychopath 

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of psychopath was in 1885

Dictionary Entries Near psychopath

Cite this Entry

“Psychopath.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychopath. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

psychopath

noun
psy·​cho·​path ˈsī-kə-ˌpath How to pronounce psychopath (audio)
: a mentally ill or unstable person
especially : one who does not feel guilty about not living up to normal social and moral responsibilities and exhibits a disregard for the feelings and safety of others

Medical Definition

psychopath

noun
psy·​cho·​path ˈsī-kə-ˌpath How to pronounce psychopath (audio)
1
: a person having an egocentric and antisocial personality marked by a lack of remorse for one's actions, an absence of empathy for others, and often criminal tendencies
2
formerly : a person with antisocial personality disorder

More from Merriam-Webster on psychopath

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