psychotic
adjective
psy·chot·ic
sī-ˈkä-tik 
1
medical
: of, relating to, marked by, or affected with psychosis
a psychotic patient
psychotic behavior
2
sometimes offensive
: exhibiting or suggestive of mental or emotional unsoundness or instability
—not used technically
Note: The nontechnical use of psychotic is increasingly viewed as a trivialization of mental illness.
psychotic
noun
plural psychotics
Synonyms of psychotic
Examples of psychotic in a Sentence
He was diagnosed as psychotic.
a psychotic patient who was recently admitted
Recent Examples on the Web
Using marijuana also did not improve other mental health conditions such as anorexia nervosa; bipolar disorder; obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD; or psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, Wilson said.
—
Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Slovak adds a chicken-scratch guitar that sounds like Nile Rodgers stuck in a psychotic loop.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
In schizophrenia, one type of psychotic disorder, exercise is believed to be neuroprotective, tamping down inflammation in the brain and spurring the release of chemicals that support and maintain brain cell growth.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
However, a person must meet seven criteria to be eligible, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder at a severe level.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for psychotic
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.
Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Slovak adds a chicken-scratch guitar that sounds like Nile Rodgers stuck in a psychotic loop.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
In schizophrenia, one type of psychotic disorder, exercise is believed to be neuroprotective, tamping down inflammation in the brain and spurring the release of chemicals that support and maintain brain cell growth.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
However, a person must meet seven criteria to be eligible, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder at a severe level.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for psychotic
Cite this Entry
“Psychotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychotic. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
psychotic
1 of 2 adjective
psy·chot·ic
sī-ˈkät-ik
: of, relating to, marked by, or affected with psychosis
psychotic
2 of 2 noun
: a psychotic individual
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
