sociopath

[soh-see-uh-path, soh-shee-]

See more synonyms for sociopath on Thesaurus.com

noun Psychiatry.

a person with a psychopathic personality whose behavior is antisocial, often criminal, and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience.

Compare psychopath.

Origin of sociopath

First recorded in 1940–45; socio- + -path

Related formsso·ci·o·path·ic, adjectiveso·ci·op·a·thy

[soh-see-op-uh-thee, soh-shee-] /ˌsoʊ siˈɒp ə θi, ˌsoʊ ʃi-/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for sociopath

lunatic, psychotic, psycho, maniac, schizoid

Examples from the Web for sociopath

Contemporary Examples of sociopath

Above the notes of praise is a small photo of Guerin wearing a polka dot tie and pocket square, staring at you like a sociopath.
The Multimillion ‘Clairvoyance by Mail’ Scam
Jacob Siegel
November 21, 2014
Although the principal had his identity protected, the traditionalists used this incident to cast Michelle as a sociopath.
A Letter of Thanks to Michelle Rhee
Dmitri Mehlhorn
August 16, 2014
One of the qualities of a sociopath is that they are very good mimics.
OITNB’s New Villain Vee, Played By Lorraine Toussaint, Speaks for the First Time
Kevin Fallon
June 13, 2014
So how did you see her before Jenji told you she was a sociopath?
OITNB’s New Villain Vee, Played By Lorraine Toussaint, Speaks for the First Time
Kevin Fallon
June 13, 2014
Ballantine told The New York Times late last year that one of his (unnamed) suspects is a sociopath.
Death in the Heartland: What Happened to Steven Haataja?
Tim Teeman
March 16, 2014

British Dictionary definitions for sociopath

sociopath

noun

psychiatry another name for psychopath

Derived Formssociopathic, adjectivesociopathy (ˌsəʊsɪˈɒpəθɪ), noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for sociopath

1930, coined by psychologist G.E. Partridge from socio- on model of psychopath.

sociopath in Medicine

sociopath

[sō′sē-ə-păth′, -shē-]

A person affected with an antisocial personality disorder.

Related formsso′ci•o•path′ic adj.

sociopath in Culture

sociopath

[(soh-see-uh-path, soh-shee-uh-path)]

Someone whose social behavior is extremely abnormal. Sociopaths are interested only in their personal needs and desires, without concern for the effects of their behavior on others. (Compare psychopath.)