psychotic

adjective

psy·​chot·​ic sī-ˈkä-tik How to pronounce psychotic (audio)
1
medical : of, relating to, marked by, or affected with psychosis
a psychotic patient
psychotic behavior
2
sometimes offensive : exhibiting or suggestive of mental or emotional unsoundness or instability
not used technically

Note: The nontechnical use of psychotic is increasingly viewed as a trivialization of mental illness.

psychotic noun
plural psychotics
psychotically adverb

Examples of psychotic in a Sentence

He was diagnosed as psychotic. a psychotic patient who was recently admitted
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The counselor also told police Trotman had had a previous psychotic break in which he was found wandering the woods. Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2023 Lewis prescribed Price anti-psychotic medication after a mental health referral Sept. 1. Thomas Saccente, Arkansas Online, 17 Jan. 2023 Upon arrival, body camera video footage and audio show Terrell was confused and potentially in the midst of a psychotic break. The Arizona Republic, 5 Jan. 2023 However, the increase was accounted for by the rise in non-psychotic patients, and there was a rise in the rate of people with only anxiety disorders. Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 3 Aug. 2011 See all Example Sentences for psychotic 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of psychotic was circa 1890

Dictionary Entries Near psychotic

Cite this Entry

“Psychotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychotic. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

psychotic

1 of 2 adjective
psy·​chot·​ic
sī-ˈkät-ik
: of, relating to, or marked by psychosis

psychotic

2 of 2 noun
: a psychotic person

Medical Definition

psychotic

1 of 2 adjective
psy·​chot·​ic sī-ˈkät-ik How to pronounce psychotic (audio)
: of, relating to, marked by, or affected with psychosis
psychotically adverb

psychotic

2 of 2 noun
: a psychotic individual

More from Merriam-Webster on psychotic

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!