hypochondriacal

adjective

hy·​po·​chon·​dri·​a·​cal ˌhī-pə-kən-ˈdrī-ə-kəl How to pronounce hypochondriacal (audio)
-ˌkän-
variants or less commonly hypochondriac
: exhibiting or marked by unusual or excessive recurring concern about one's health : affected or produced by hypochondria
And given my hypochondriacal nature, I have no choice but to see my doctor regularly.Alonzo Weston
hypochondriacally adverb

Examples of hypochondriacal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Her mother, Pattie (Alli Mauzey), is ludicrously hypochondriacal, as if atoning for the chromosomal accident that produced her quick-aging child. New York Times, 8 Dec. 2021 Many women with myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune neuromuscular disease first named in 1877, were misdiagnosed as mentally unwell and dismissed as hypochondriacal well into the 20th century. Elinor Cleghorn, WSJ, 12 June 2021 During downtime, Daisy May cracked up the crew with a hypochondriacal riff about an unprintable physical sensation in her bowels. David Segal, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2020 Bill Nighy has too few scenes as Emma's protective, hypochondriacal father, but each one is a master class in comic glances and delivery. Caryn James, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Feb. 2020 By contrast, Davenport — mildly hypochondriacal and prey to colds and occasional depression — hates to go anywhere, often suffering intense anxiety at the very prospect of a trip. Michael Dirda, National Review, 25 July 2019 The interchangeability of the smaller supporting characters enhances this sense of social fluidity — at any moment, someone else can turn into the impoverished talkative spinster, Miss Bates, or Mr. Woodhouse, Emma’s hypochondriacal father. Kerry Reid, chicagotribune.com, 6 June 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hypochondriacal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hypochondriacal was in 1576

Dictionary Entries Near hypochondriacal

Cite this Entry

“Hypochondriacal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypochondriacal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

hypochondriacal

adjective
hy·​po·​chon·​dri·​a·​cal -kən-ˈdrī-ə-kəl, -ˌkän- How to pronounce hypochondriacal (audio)
: marked by unusual or excessive recurring concern about one's health : affected with or produced by hypochondria
hypochondriacally adverb

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