neurosis

American  

[noo-roh-sis, nyoo-] / nʊˈroʊ sɪs, njʊ- /

noun

Psychiatry.

• neuroses
  plural

1. Also called psychoneurosis.  a functional disorder in which feelings of anxiety, obsessional thoughts, compulsive acts, and physical complaints without objective evidence of disease, in various degrees and patterns, dominate the personality.

2. a relatively mild personality disorder typified by excessive anxiety or indecision and a degree of social or interpersonal maladjustment.

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neurosis British  

/ njʊˈrəʊsɪs /

noun

1. Also called: psychoneurosis.  a relatively mild mental disorder, characterized by symptoms such as hysteria, anxiety, depression, or obsessive behaviour

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neurosis Scientific  

/ n-rō′sĭs /

1. A psychological state characterized by excessive anxiety or insecurity without evidence of neurologic or other organic disease, sometimes accompanied by defensive or immature behaviors. This term is no longer used in psychiatric diagnosis.

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neurosis Cultural  

1. A mental disorder marked by anxiety or fear. Neurosis is less severe than psychosis. (See also angst, hysteria, and phobia.)

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Discover More

In popular usage, a “neurotic” is anyone who worries a lot.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• neuroses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of neurosis

From New Latin, dating back to 1770–80; see origin at neur-, -osis

Compare meaning

How does neurosis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• neurosis vs. psychosis

Explanation

If you feel overly anxious and worried, that is a sign of neurosis: a mental illness with no particular cause. Depression, tension, irritability, and nervousness are all symptoms of a mental or emotional disorder called neurosis. When you have a neurosis, you worry so much that it makes life difficult. The difficult thing about neurosis is there’s not something specifically wrong, like with a broken leg or type of cancer. Neurosis is a mental-health issue that can be minor or very serious. It's also very common, and many comedians have made fun of their own neurosis in their work.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

neurosis neuroses

We moderns, Mr. Delbourgo argues, have gone from theories of “demonic possession to accusations of superstition, obsession, sexual neurosis, and pathological greed down to the recent invention of the medical term ‘hoarding disorder.’”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025

I've just worked on developing better skills to keep myself from talking myself into a place of neurosis.

From Salon ● Apr. 17, 2025

A victory to flush out any neurosis and compound the belief in their plan.

From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2024

And if we cannot find a referent for the normal and the good, how can we possibly come back from our national neurosis?

From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2024

He had lived for almost twenty years without trauma, tension, hate, or neurosis, which was proof to Yossarian of just how crazy he really was.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

This explanation is so wrong-headed, yet so consistent with official Britain’s neuroses about data protection and process-following, that it may even be true.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 2026

Instead of one central couple, there are two, each with their own neuroses and ways of relating to one another.

From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2025

“I can’t control where in one’s toilet scrolling one is finding my interview about neuroses and vulnerability, right?”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2025

For Mathew Horne, having played Gavin for 17 years is throwing up all sorts of existential questions: "I'm putting to one side all my neuroses about that and to the ageing process."

From BBC ● Dec. 23, 2024

Instead, it’s me bleeding out all my neuroses, looking for answers to questions I have no right to be asking.

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Related Words

• inhibition