psychopath

noun

psy·​cho·​path ˈsī-kə-ˌpath How to pronounce psychopath (audio)
ˈsī-kō-
: a mentally unstable person
especially : a person having an egocentric and antisocial personality marked by a lack of remorse for one's actions, an absence of empathy for others, and often criminal tendencies

Examples of psychopath in a Sentence

declared that he was a dangerous psychopath
Recent Examples on the Web Experts claim that psychopaths and sociopaths share similar characteristics. Jack Kelly, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 An almost unrecognizable Austin Butler joins the party as psychopath Feyd-Rautha — a role famously devoured by Sting in David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s epic novel. Andrew Torgan, CNN, 25 Feb. 2024 Due to their antisocial behavior, psychopaths and sociopaths are clever and hard to spot. Jack Kelly, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Trump calls prosecutor 'a degenerate psychopath' Trump, the likely Republican nominee campaigning to return to the White House, is expected to attend the hearing, according to his lawyer, Steven Sadow. USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 April may be the cruelest month, but February’s a psychopath. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 15 Feb. 2024 Few of the women Motz treats are sui-generis psychopaths. Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024 Without this intervention, his psychiatrist felt, Fleming would have become a psychopath. Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024 Black women have faced zombies, aliens, murderous psychopaths, and other terrifying horrors on the silver screen. Essence, 31 Oct. 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of psychopath was in 1885

Dictionary Entries Near psychopath

Cite this Entry

“Psychopath.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychopath. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

psychopath

noun
psy·​cho·​path ˈsī-kə-ˌpath How to pronounce psychopath (audio)
: a mentally ill or unstable person
especially : one who does not feel guilty about not living up to normal social and moral responsibilities and exhibits a disregard for the feelings and safety of others

Medical Definition

psychopath

noun
psy·​cho·​path ˈsī-kə-ˌpath How to pronounce psychopath (audio)
1
: a person having an egocentric and antisocial personality marked by a lack of remorse for one's actions, an absence of empathy for others, and often criminal tendencies
2
formerly : a person with antisocial personality disorder

More from Merriam-Webster on psychopath

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