schizophrenic

[skit-suh-fren-ik]

adjective

1. Psychiatry.,  of or relating to schizophrenia.

   Not all of these patients are schizophrenic.

2. of or relating to conflicting or inconsistent elements; characterized by unusual disparity.

   It wavers from comedy to thriller to docudrama—a totally schizophrenic plot!

noun

Psychiatry.

1. a person with schizophrenia.

   Schizophrenics are often unable to focus on certain objects.

Word History and Origins

Origin of schizophrenic¹

First recorded in 1910–15; schizophren(ia) ( def. ) + -ic ( def. )

Example Sentences

It was believed this could reduce psychotic or schizophrenic symptoms, and somehow "re-set" a patient's brain.

Read more on BBC

Certain parallels between then and now have helped inspire what Grisanti described as “schizophrenic” thinking among professional money managers.

Read more on MarketWatch

While initially convicted of first-degree murder in Worden’s death, he was eventually declared not guilty by reason of insanity — diagnosed as schizophrenic — and was institutionalized until his death due to complications from cancer in 1984.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Zarutska’s suspected killer, DeCarlos Brown Jr., is a homeless man with a long criminal record and is a paranoid schizophrenic, according to his family.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As do so many schizophrenics, Ayers-Moore says, her brother would improve with medication but then refuse to take it and slip back into his tortured world.

Read more on Los Angeles Times