schizoid

American  

[skit-soid] / ˈskɪt sɔɪd /

adjective

1. Psychology. of or relating to a personality disorder marked by dissociation, passivity, withdrawal, inability to form warm social relationships, and indifference to praise or criticism.

2. Informal. of or relating to schizophrenia or to multiple personality.

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noun

1. a schizoid person.

schizoid British  

/ ˈskɪtsɔɪd /

adjective

1. psychol denoting a personality disorder characterized by lack of close relationships with other people and more than usual self-absorption

2. informal characterized by or showing conflicting or contradictory attitudes, ideas, etc

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noun

1. a person who has a schizoid personality

Usage

Rather than referring to someone as a schizoid it is better to talk about a person with a schizoid personality disorder

Other Word Forms

• unschizoid adjective

Etymology

Origin of schizoid

1920–25; schiz- ( def. ) + -oid

Compare meaning

How does schizoid compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• schizoid vs. schizophrenia

Example Sentences

It’s also a reminder that the nuclear-age ’50s were the last great movie era to turn universal terror into merrily schizoid audience fare.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 18, 2024

Masursky cited numerous mental health issues Dervish dealt with including psychosis, autism with schizoid features and clinical depression.

From Seattle Times • May 21, 2024

The 22-year-old suspect, Choi Won-jong, was a delivery driver and high-school dropout who had been diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder.

From BBC • Aug. 12, 2023

As the title implies, “Mother/Android” is a bit of a schizoid thing.

From Washington Post • Dec. 15, 2021

Carla, in fact, says it's a borderline schizoid response to traumatic cultural displacement.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez