psychopath

[sahy-kuh-path]

noun

1. a person with a psychopathic personality, which manifests as amoral and antisocial behavior, lack of ability to love or establish meaningful personal relationships, extreme egocentricity, failure to learn from experience, etc.

psychopath

/ ˈsaɪkəʊˌpæθ /

noun

1. Also called: sociopath. a person afflicted with a personality disorder characterized by a tendency to commit antisocial and sometimes violent acts and a failure to feel guilt for such acts

psychopath

1. A mentally unbalanced person who is inclined toward antisocial and criminal behavior. (Compare sociopath.)

Other Word Forms

• psychopathic adjective
• psychopathically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of psychopath¹

First recorded in 1880–85; psycho- + -path

Example Sentences

When Ms. Rosario was working, which was almost all the time, Mosley stopped by to make sure Michael hadn’t been kidnapped by psychopaths or brainwashed by daytime television.

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A train car moving at high speed with the doors and windows closed is a violent psychopath’s dream—a veritable barrel full of unarmed, unsuspecting fish.

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Charlton - described by prosecutors as "a psychopath" - slapped and punched Karen and, when Ali tried to stop him, Ali said he hit him as well.

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People paying their respects at the memorial were taken aback, with one commenting that, even in Utah, “there are some psychopaths.”

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“Soros, and his group of psychopaths, have caused great damage to our Country! That includes his Crazy, West Coast friends. Be careful, we’re watching you!”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• lunatic 
• maniac 
• psycho 
• sociopath