as in paranoid
having or showing a very nervous or disordered state of mind
Her neurotic tendencies tend to manifest in her obsessive need for cleanliness. Our dog is a bit neurotic; she tends to panic around strangers.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of neurotic
Where Mazin, 53, is voluble, demonstrative and unabashedly neurotic, Druckmann, 46, can be sphinxlike in his measured calm.
—
Adam B. Vary, Variety, 5 Mar. 2025
Sadly, her friends weren’t into neurotic lizard babies, so that was that.
—Heather Havrilesky, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
Some people actually became less neurotic—that is, less depressed and anxious—after, say, a cancer diagnosis.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2025
The sardonic, neurotic, introspective style of humor reflecting the ambivalence of postwar Jewish-American aspirations for assimilation, was reflected in the works of comedians from Woody Allen to Jerry Seinfeld.
—Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neurotic
Adam B. Vary, Variety, 5 Mar. 2025
Sadly, her friends weren’t into neurotic lizard babies, so that was that.
—Heather Havrilesky, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
Some people actually became less neurotic—that is, less depressed and anxious—after, say, a cancer diagnosis.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2025
The sardonic, neurotic, introspective style of humor reflecting the ambivalence of postwar Jewish-American aspirations for assimilation, was reflected in the works of comedians from Woody Allen to Jerry Seinfeld.
—Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neurotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neurotic
Adjective
-
That’s certainly what the Holland trailer feels like, putting Nicole Kidman at the center of a paranoid satire about a seemingly picture-perfect Michigan homemaker whose husband (Matthew Macfadyen) is up to … something.—
Matthew Jacobs,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Or is Julia, as the men in her life keep telling her, just being paranoid?—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
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
Adjective
-
On the flip side, the cushy, rocker-bottom shoe that makes your miles feel oh-so-smooth can leave you wobbly and unstable in the weight room.—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Our dependence on oil puts countless service members’ lives at risk and reinforces our reliance on a volatile and unstable global market with the potential to devastate the U.S. economy.—
James Brock,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
About 47 million people faced an enhanced to moderate severe storm threat from Madison, Wis., to Birmingham, Ala. Forecasters grew increasingly worried that intense thunderstorms farther south will likely bring an even greater tornado threat Saturday.—
Sean Murphy and Russ Bynum,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2025
-
The man the Observer spoke to is worried about his mother, who is still trapped in Afghanistan.—
Ryan Oehrli,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Jacob Tremblay plays Winston's anxious stepson Wade.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
-
In a time when many workers are anxious about what AI means for their roles, leaders who speak to both the potential and the limits of AI are earning deeper trust and keeping their teams engaged.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump won't be on the ballot again, but this week had to make a lot of Republicans who will be very nervous.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Mitch [Hurwitz, the show creator] was very nervous.—
Aaron Couch,
The Hollywood Reporter,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
But not on this recent Wednesday — because the herd is restless.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2025
-
After a restless night while a thunderstorm raged outside, Tess and Anna wake up not as themselves, but as two 14-year-old girls, Harper and Lily.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
14 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to neurotic
Cite this Entry
“Neurotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neurotic. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share