schizoid

1 of 2

adjective

schiz·​oid ˈskit-ˌsȯid How to pronounce schizoid (audio)
1
: having mutually contradictory or antagonistic parts : changing frequently between opposite states
… the show deftly exposes the schizoid personality of the decade, which moved from conservatism to pop-culture hedonism in the batting of a false eyelash.John Duka
It's not her fault that the character … seems more than a little schizoid—one minute acting like a confirmed colonialist, the next spouting stirring multiculturalist speeches.David Ansen
2
psychology
a
: of, relating to, or having a personality characterized especially by emotional and social detachment, indifference, and lack of affect : affected by schizoid personality disorder
It is crucial that those involved in the care of the schizoid patient are able to accept the patient's lack of communication and need to withdraw, without resigning from treatment.Birgitte Thylstrup and Morten Hesse
b
: characterized by, resulting from, tending toward, or suggestive of schizophrenia
That he is now free of schizoid symptoms, and that his personality survived intact without benefit of psychiatric care, make this book a testimonial against the "medical model" of schizophrenia that declares it an incurable disease.Scott Vickers

schizoid

2 of 2

noun

plural schizoids
: a person affected with schizoid personality disorder
… extreme schizoids seem impervious to all emotion—even anger, depression, and anxiety—not just to joy and pleasure.Theodore Millon et al.

Examples of schizoid in a Sentence

Adjective With his schizoid nature, you never know whether he will disagree or agree with you.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Less than 1% of individuals develop schizoid personality disorder.5 What Causes Schizoid Personality Disorder? Jessica Migala, Health, 17 Nov. 2023 There's no way to prevent schizoid or other personality disorders. Jessica Migala, Health, 17 Nov. 2023 For example, a mathematician with a schizoid personality might be perfectly comfortable calculating in solitude. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 28 June 2023 Acting isn't schizoid like that. Glenn Garner, PEOPLE.com, 13 Mar. 2022 She was described in the ratings as the highest scorer on paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, avoidant and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder of all the characters (see figure 2). Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 9 Aug. 2012 Both schizotypal and schizoid personality disorders fall into cluster A, explains Chase Cassine, LCSW, a therapist in New Orleans. Erica Sweeney, Men's Health, 30 Nov. 2022 For individuals with schizoid personality disorder (ScPD), that usually means being detached, struggling to show emotion, avoiding social activities, and showing little interest in relationships. Erica Sweeney, Men's Health, 28 Nov. 2022 Some analysts look at the last few American presidential elections and see a schizoid polity. Keith C. Burris Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (tns), Star Tribune, 20 Nov. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'schizoid.' 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

Adjective

borrowed from German, from Schizophrenie schizophrenia + -oid -oid entry 2

Noun

derivative of schizoid entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Noun

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of schizoid was in 1920

Dictionary Entries Near schizoid

Cite this Entry

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

Medical Definition

schizoid

1 of 2 adjective
schiz·​oid ˈskit-ˌsȯid How to pronounce schizoid (audio)
1
: of, relating to, having, or being a personality characterized especially by emotional and social detachment, indifference, and lack of affect : affected by schizoid personality disorder
schizoid personalities
It is crucial that those involved in the care of the schizoid patient are able to accept the patient's lack of communication and need to withdraw …Birgitte Thylstrup and Morten Hesse
2
: characterized by, resulting from, tending toward, or suggestive of schizophrenia
schizoid behavior

schizoid

2 of 2 noun
: a person affected with schizoid personality disorder
… extreme schizoids seem impervious to all emotion—even anger, depression, and anxiety—not just to joy and pleasure.Theodore Millon et al.

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