sociopath

[ soh-see-uh-path, soh-shee- ]

noun

, Psychiatry.

1. a person with a psychopathic personality whose behavior is antisocial, often criminal, and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience.

sociopath

/ ˌsəʊsɪˈɒpəθɪ; ˈsəʊsɪəˌpæθ /

noun

1. psychiatry another name for psychopath

sociopath

1. Someone whose social behavior is extremely abnormal. Sociopaths are interested only in their personal needs and desires, without concern for the effects of their behavior on others. ( Compare psychopath .)

Derived Forms

• sociopathy, noun
• ˌsocioˈpathic, adjective

Other Words From

• soci·o·pathic adjective
• so·ci·op·a·thy [soh-see-, op, -, uh, -thee, soh-shee-], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sociopath¹

First recorded in 1940–45; socio- + -path

Example Sentences

Above the notes of praise is a small photo of Guerin wearing a polka dot tie and pocket square, staring at you like a sociopath.

From The Daily Beast

Read a cautionary tale about the seductive and dangerous power of a charlatan sociopath, featuring goats and the American Dream.

From The Daily Beast

Regardless, his turn as wealthy heir/sociopath John du Pont is never less than utterly transfixing and unsettling.

From The Daily Beast

Although the principal had his identity protected, the traditionalists used this incident to cast Michelle as a sociopath.

From The Daily Beast

He knows Crist is a gifted, manipulative political sociopath.

From The Daily Beast

The realization of that phenomenon might help us to resolve our own internal conflict in dealing with the manipulative sociopath.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• lunatic