anorexia nervosa
noun
anorexia ner·vo·sa
-(ˌ)nər-ˈvō-sə 
-zə
: a serious disorder in eating behavior that is characterized especially by a pathological fear of weight gain leading to faulty eating patterns, malnutrition, and usually excessive weight loss and that occurs most commonly in young women in their teens and early twenties
Examples of anorexia nervosa in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What at first appears to be a run-of-the-mill trauma drama about a family dealing with the eldest child’s anorexia nervosa gradually evolves into something odder and more original, even blackly comic, in Ungrateful Beings.
—
Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Long before Trump became commander in chief, eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia, occurring after the age of 13 have been on the list of conditions that disqualify someone from military service.
—Noelle Wiehe, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2025
They were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, exercise bulimia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), and alexithymia (the inability to identify, feel, and express their emotions).
—Anna Borges, SELF, 12 Aug. 2025
Tarpley was admitted to the hospital at 13 and diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.
—Alicia Garceau, NPR, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anorexia nervosa
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.
Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
Long before Trump became commander in chief, eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia, occurring after the age of 13 have been on the list of conditions that disqualify someone from military service.
—Noelle Wiehe, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2025
They were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, exercise bulimia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), and alexithymia (the inability to identify, feel, and express their emotions).
—Anna Borges, SELF, 12 Aug. 2025
Tarpley was admitted to the hospital at 13 and diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.
—Alicia Garceau, NPR, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anorexia nervosa
Cite this Entry
“Anorexia nervosa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anorexia%20nervosa. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
anorexia nervosa
noun
anorexia ner·vo·sa
-(ˌ)nər-ˈvō-sə
-zə
: a serious eating disorder especially of young women in their teens in which an abnormal fear of weight gain leads to faulty eating habits and extreme weight loss
Medical Definition
anorexia nervosa
noun
anorexia ner·vo·sa
-(ˌ)nər-ˈvō-sə, -zə
: a serious eating disorder that is characterized especially by a pathological fear of weight gain leading to faulty eating patterns, malnutrition, and usually excessive weight loss and that occurs most commonly in young women in their teens and early twenties
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share