psychotic

adjective

psy·​chot·​ic sī-ˈkä-tik How to pronounce psychotic (audio)
Synonyms of psychoticnext
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
sī-ˈkä-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce psychotic (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of psychotic

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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.
In the second episode, Tom spends a night in the local inn, and ends up in a crawl space with the ghost of a psychotic killer clown. — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 18 June 2026 The film follows a desperate mother struggling with her teenage son’s psychotic disorder. — Ed Meza, Variety, 15 June 2026 The defense argued that Bland had a psychotic episode due to a COVID infection. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026 The records indicate that Carradine had a history of anxiety, bipolar disorder, severe depression with psychotic features and prior suicide attempts. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026 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

Rhymes for psychotic

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Browse Nearby Words

psychotherapy
psychotic
psychotomimetic
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Cite this Entry

“Psychotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychotic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce psychotic (audio)
adverb

psychotic

2 of 2 noun
: a psychotic individual

More from Merriam-Webster on psychotic

Nglish: Translation of psychotic for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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