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.

---

neurosis British  

/ njʊˈrəʊsɪs /

noun

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

---

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.

---

neurosis Cultural  

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

---

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

In a way we are called to do similar work with types, with the objective being to stop pathologizing the ones that might heal us or rescue us from neurosis.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 16, 2024

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

From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2024

His works wrenched and distorted, as if painted through neurosis.

From "Between Shades of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys

“This Is Not About Us” mines excellent, bone-dry humor from the neuroses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026

He starts off as a real guy with neuroses and problems and foibles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2025

That’s not exactly unconventional for one of his movies, but more than any of his other features, this film is laced with Aster’s neuroses.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2025

She understands there is a formula to our narcissism and neuroses; patterns and mathematical sets of criteria drive our decisions.

From Salon ● Jun. 14, 2025

What the press—and seemingly everyone else—failed to understand was that it was Bobby’s shrewdness in protecting his financial interests, rather than temper tantrums or neuroses, that was making him hesitate.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• inhibition

---