schizophrenic

American  

[skit-suh-fren-ik] / ˌskɪt səˈfrɛn ɪk /

adjective

1. Psychiatry. of or relating to schizophrenia.

   Not all of these patients are schizophrenic.

2. of or relating to conflicting or inconsistent elements; characterized by unusual disparity.

   It wavers from comedy to thriller to docudrama—a totally schizophrenic plot!

---

noun

Psychiatry.

1. a person with schizophrenia.

   Schizophrenics are often unable to focus on certain objects.

Etymology

Origin of schizophrenic

First recorded in 1910–15; schizophren(ia) ( def. ) + -ic ( def. )

Example Sentences

Pace had “a rather schizophrenic career,” according to the Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television by Bob McCann.

From Los Angeles Times

When he was arrested on suspicion of murder, Askari denied killing Veisi and said he was a "diagnosed schizophrenic" and he was "hearing voices in my head".

From BBC

Financial stocks fall, as Wall Street’s ‘schizophrenic personality’ on artificial intelligence stalls momentum.

From The Wall Street Journal

“You almost have a schizophrenic personality on AI right now,” Kolano said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yet when Lin attempts to break out using strobe effects to reflect Joe’s schizophrenic episodes, it comes off more jarring than immersive.

From Los Angeles Times