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

I keep coming back to psychoanalyst Karen Horney’s 1950 discussion of neurosis and the professions—how they can attract exactly the wrong people, masquerading ideals they don’t possess.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026

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

The problem in such cases, Freud explained, is that when an entire society develops a neurosis, it becomes impossible to gauge what is “normal.”

From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2024

There was nothing in his actions, however—at that time—that indicated serious problems or advanced neurosis.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

And amid all the sturm und drang, each character projects onto the other a pent-up spleen of parent-child neuroses and unmet expectations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

Plaza knew Kevin’s neuroses fit Schwartzman but also that he could bring his own touches while improvising.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2026

Films are a chance to work out these nagging, existential neuroses that live in the back of the mind, the type that overwhelm to the point of panic if thought about for too long.

From Salon ● Nov. 27, 2025

Combining the neuroses of insecure teenagers and the poll-monitoring reticence of politicians fit for parody, they appear both weak and bashful.

From Salon ● Mar. 9, 2025

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