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sociopath

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

/ ˈsoʊ si əˌpæθ, ˈsoʊ ʃi- /

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See synonyms for: sociopath / sociopathic 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.

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What Is The Difference Between "Psychopath" vs. "Sociopath"?

Despite all the confusion around the terms psychopath and sociopath, is there actually a difference? Let us explain!

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Compare psychopath.

Origin of sociopath

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

OTHER WORDS FROM sociopath

so·ci·o·path·ic, adjectiveso·ci·op·a·thy

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

Words nearby sociopath

sociologism, sociologistic, sociologize, sociology, sociometry, sociopath, sociopathy, sociopolitical, sociopsychological, socioreligious, sociosexual

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use sociopath in a sentence

In Philipps’s telling, Gallagher is a “narcissistic sociopath” with “ice-blue eyes” who opens fire on old men and little girls.
Are the Navy SEALs actually awful at their jobs?|Greg Jaffe|August 24, 2021|Washington Post
Emily has devoted her life to figuring out how to infuse regular humans—as opposed to sociopaths—with superpowers, and she’s getting close to reaching her goal.
Even the Subpar Superhero Comedy Thunder Force Can't Fully Extinguish Melissa McCarthy's Gifts|Stephanie Zacharek|April 9, 2021|Time
Sam Adam, a defense attorney for Alex, responded by portraying Patrick as a sociopath and noting he had admitted to lying under oath before.
The Murder Chicago Didn’t Want to Solve|by Mick Dumke|February 25, 2021|ProPublica
The constable is right, of course, for what little good his investigatory brainpower does him against a couple of sociopaths.
Jo Nesbo’s ‘The Kingdom’ is a suspenseful bundle of Norwegian noir that’s almost impossible to put down|Richard Lipez|November 9, 2020|Washington Post

By allowing these sociopaths to shut down free speech with violence you are all but demanding a war.
The Proud Boys, explained|Jane Coaston|October 1, 2020|Vox
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|DAILY BEAST
Read a cautionary tale about the seductive and dangerous power of a charlatan sociopath, featuring goats and the American Dream.
The Strange, True Tale of the Old-Timey Goat Testicle-Implanting 'Governor'|Penny Lane|September 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Regardless, his turn as wealthy heir/sociopath John du Pont is never less than utterly transfixing and unsettling.
Oscar Season Kicks Off in Toronto: Channing Tatum, Kristen Stewart, and More Court Awards Glory|Marlow Stern|September 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
He knows Crist is a gifted, manipulative political sociopath.
The Messy, Sordid Story of Jim Greer, Charlie Crist’s Man to a Fault|Rick Wilson|June 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The realization of that phenomenon might help us to resolve our own internal conflict in dealing with the manipulative sociopath.
Sequential Problem Solving|Fredric Lozo

British Dictionary definitions for sociopath

sociopath

/ (ˈsəʊsɪəˌpæθ) /

noun

psychiatry another name for psychopath

Derived forms of sociopath

sociopathic, 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

Medical definitions for sociopath

sociopath

[ sō′sē-ə-păth′, -shē- ]

n.

A person affected with an antisocial personality disorder.

Other words from sociopath

so′ci•o•path′ic adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Cultural definitions for sociopath

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.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.