catatonic

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adjective cat·a·ton·ic \ -ˈtä-nik \

Definition of catatonic

1 :of, relating to, marked by, or affected with catatonia

catatonic schizophrenia

2 :characterized by a marked lack of movement, activity, or expression

tourists who were almost catatonic at finding themselves in their hero's presence
—Neil Hickey

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catatonic

noun

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catatonically

play \-ni-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of catatonic in a Sentence

a catatonic stare was all that the neglected resident of the nursing home seemed capable of

Recent Examples of catatonic from the Web

This whole affair sounds horrific, which might be why the females have evolved a catatonic state to endure it.

— jason bittel, Smithsonian, "Camel Spiders Are Fast, Furious and Horrifically Fascinating," 9 Aug. 2017
Ebony Archie, barefoot and crying, was almost catatonic.

— the washington post, AL.com, "'He was a baby!' Mississippi mourns Kingston Frazier, 6-year-old killed in carjacking," 19 May 2017
Some have been unconscious, some vomiting and others in a catatonic state.

— mara h. gottfried, Twin Cities, "Dangerous strain of synthetic marijuana raising alarm in St. Paul," 8 May 2017
Of course, Cueto had to be perfect because the Giants offense was catatonic yet again.

— andrew baggarly, sacbee.com, "Giants escape to New York after being trounced and swept by Reds," 7 May 2017
Indigo Jackson is an unusually lively and aware Lucky, Pozzo’s usually catatonic slave, whose one long speech is overwhelmed by a whole lot of madcap, athletic clowning.

— sam hurwitt, The Mercury News, "Review: ‘Waiting for Godot’ gets manic staging in Oakland Church," 23 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'catatonic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of catatonic

see catatonia

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1904

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catatonic Synonyms

Synonyms

blank, deadpan, empty, expressionless, impassive, inexpressive, numb, stolid, vacant

Antonyms

demonstrative, expressive

Related Words

dull, vacuous, vague, vapid; enigmatic (also enigmatical), impenetrable, inscrutable, mysterious; motionless, static, still, wooden; reserved, restrained, reticent, taciturn; aloof, apathetic, cold, cool, detached, indifferent, phlegmatic, unresponsive

Near Antonyms

engaged, interested, responsive; active, alive, animated, bright, busy, dynamic, effervescent, energetic, expansive, exuberant, lively, vivacious; eloquent, revealing, revelatory; gestic, gesticulant, gesticulative, gesticulatory, gestural; emotional, melodramatic, theatrical (also theatric), unreserved, unrestrained

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Medical Dictionary

catatonic

play

adjective cata·ton·ic \ ˌkat-ə-ˈtän-ik \

medical Definition of catatonic

:of, relating to, marked by, or affected with catatonia

catatonic schizophrenia

catatonic rigidity

catatonic patients

—

catatonically

play \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

catatonic

noun

medical Definition of catatonic

:a catatonic individual

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Examples of catatonic in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of catatonic

catatonic Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Psychology Terms

Medical Dictionary

catatonic

medical Definition of catatonic

catatonically

catatonic

medical Definition of catatonic

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