neurotic

¹ American  

[noo-rot-ik, nyoo-] / nʊˈrɒt ɪk, nyʊ- /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of neurosis.

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noun

1. a neurotic person.

neurotic ² American  

[noo-rot-ik, nyoo-] / nʊˈrɒt ɪk, nyʊ- /

adjective

Pathology.

1. pertaining to the nerves or to nerve disease; neural: no longer in technical use.

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neurotic British  

/ njʊˈrɒtɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or afflicted by neurosis

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noun

1. a person who is afflicted with a neurosis or who tends to be emotionally unstable or unusually anxious

Other Word Forms

• neurotically adverb
• semineurotically adverb
• unneurotically adverb

Etymology

Origin of neurotic¹

First recorded in 1870–75; neur(osis) + -otic

Origin of neurotic²

First recorded in 1765–75; neuro- + -tic

Example Sentences

Germany is uniquely neurotic about debt and about unsound money.

From BBC

On the darker side, I’ve seen gluttonous greed and an utterly neurotic need to fit in and be seen.

From The Wall Street Journal

Arsenal’s quest to end a two-decade dry spell hasn’t exactly been helped by one of the most neurotic fan bases in Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal

Richards did tell Lindo that he needed to jettison some of the neurotic choices he was making as an actor.

From Los Angeles Times

She was one of many authors he wrangled—alcoholic William Faulkner, neurotic Dr. Seuss, industrious James Michener, imperious Philip Roth.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• compulsive
• distraught
• disturbed
• manic
• obsessive