as in paranoid
having or showing a very nervous or disordered state of mind
Her neurotic tendencies tend to manifest in her obsessive need for cleanliness. Our dog is a bit neurotic; she tends to panic around strangers.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of neurotic
Some parents are neurotic about validating their kids’ emotions or guarding their individuality; others fixate on maximizing their career potential.
—
Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
In Silva’s hands, CeCe is clever and witty, neurotic and full of longing, both wise and naive.
—Patricia Karounos, refinery29.com, 21 Nov. 2024
These neurotic superheroes, played by Jang Ki-yong, Ko Du-shim, Soo Hyun and Park So-yi, appealingly face their problems and work through them to regain their powers.
—Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
In videos, the adorable, if neurotic, sheepadoodle taps buttons related to play, outside, or poop, and her enthusiastic human owner and trainer fulfills requests while engaging in something that resembles back and forth conversation.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for neurotic 
Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
In Silva’s hands, CeCe is clever and witty, neurotic and full of longing, both wise and naive.
—Patricia Karounos, refinery29.com, 21 Nov. 2024
These neurotic superheroes, played by Jang Ki-yong, Ko Du-shim, Soo Hyun and Park So-yi, appealingly face their problems and work through them to regain their powers.
—Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
In videos, the adorable, if neurotic, sheepadoodle taps buttons related to play, outside, or poop, and her enthusiastic human owner and trainer fulfills requests while engaging in something that resembles back and forth conversation.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for neurotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neurotic
Adjective
-
The men are outright paranoid, ducking down alleys or peering out of second-story windows.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2025
-
His hysterical and paranoid tenor made this easy to dismiss as excuse-making for his difficulties governing in his first term and his myriad legal problems.—
Jeannie Suk Gersen,
The New Yorker,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The counselor also told police Trotman had had a previous psychotic break in which he was found wandering the woods.—
Peter Hermann,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2023
-
Lewis prescribed Price anti-psychotic medication after a mental health referral Sept. 1.—
Thomas Saccente,
Arkansas Online,
17 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
Some predict that if economic and political conditions remain unstable, gold could continue to rise.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
1 Feb. 2025
-
One possibility is that unstable cholesterol levels could contribute to damage in blood vessels that supply the brain.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
How worried should the team be about his availability for the playoffs?—
AAron Ontiveroz,
The Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2025
-
Other Trump critics are worried about the humanitarian impact of cutting aid programs—Newsweek has reported on an AIDS foundation's estimation that more than 100,000 babies could be born with HIV as a result of Trump's freeze.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Related article More kids are anxious but fewer are getting the right help, study shows New fears and anxieties tend to develop and vary as children and adolescents grow and adapt to new environments, Silverman said.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN,
5 Feb. 2025
-
The person in question has legal status and was feeling anxious about the Trump administration's hardline immigration agenda.—
Anders Fogh Rasmussen,
Newsweek,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Both Hancock and Quaid recall their first meeting about the script — especially how nervous the actor was.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
4 Feb. 2025
-
These tips can help nervous flyers manage or overcome their fear of the skies.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
But Gaza — marked by decades of bloodshed — is a uniquely volatile addition to the roll call of lands whose sovereignty and assets have come under Trump’s restless eye.—
Laura King,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2025
-
His output is alluded to in the film’s atmospheric credit sequence, in which a restless, scratchy charcoal pencil attacks white paper, the claustrophobia of which is intensified by the director’s intimate use of Academy ratio.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
25 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to neurotic
Thesaurus Entries Near neurotic
Cite this Entry
“Neurotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neurotic. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share