pathological
adjective
path·o·log·i·cal
ˌpa-thə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 
variants
or less commonly pathologic
1
: of or relating to pathology
pathological research
A pathological examination led to the diagnosis.
2
: altered or caused by disease
pathological changes in the body
also
: indicative of disease
pathological symptoms
3
: being such to a degree that is extreme, excessive, or markedly abnormal
a pathological liar
pathological fear
Examples of pathological in a Sentence
He is a pathological liar.
She has a pathological fear of heights.
pathological changes in the body
Recent Examples on the Web
After a year abroad, he’s forced to confront his pathological fear of climbing when Seren fails to return from a routine climb.
—
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
The point seems to be that the Nazi leaders, among other things, were pathological narcissists, and that this is what narcissism can lock you into: a state of unreal self-belief.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
At the time, the affair could be viewed as but the latest chapter in Germany’s distinctly pathological relationship to Jews.
—Daniel May, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
In this case, the researchers suggest that the abnormal theta-alpha coupling may reflect a pathological neural signature of OCD.
—New Atlas, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pathological
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Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
The point seems to be that the Nazi leaders, among other things, were pathological narcissists, and that this is what narcissism can lock you into: a state of unreal self-belief.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
At the time, the affair could be viewed as but the latest chapter in Germany’s distinctly pathological relationship to Jews.
—Daniel May, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
In this case, the researchers suggest that the abnormal theta-alpha coupling may reflect a pathological neural signature of OCD.
—New Atlas, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pathological
Cite this Entry
“Pathological.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathological. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
pathological
adjective
patho·log·i·cal
ˌpath-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl
variants
also pathologic
1
: of or relating to pathology
a pathological laboratory
2
: altered or caused by disease
pathological tissue
also
: indicative of disease
pathological lesions
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