neurosis

American  

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

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.

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

Mr. Whishaw, who also starred in Mr. Sachs’s “Passages” in 2023, brings to his performance a martini-dry comic flair with a twist of New York neurosis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 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

“My poor friend,” Vincent writes to him, “our neurosis &c. surely also comes from our rather too artistic way of life—but it’s also a fatal inheritance.”

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

Related Words

• inhibition