dysphoria

noun

dys·​pho·​ria dis-ˈfȯr-ē-ə 

plural dysphorias

: a state of feeling very unhappy, uneasy, or dissatisfied

Paradoxically, chronic cocaine use eventually leads to dysphoria—a depressed, low-energy state characterized by flattened emotions, a lack of interest in sex, and physical immobility.

—James Lieber

see also gender dysphoria

Examples of dysphoria in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

General symptoms experienced by people with this condition include disrupted sleep, dysphoria (a state of unease or unhappiness) and difficulty managing stress. —Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026

According to data collected mostly before the recent surge in pediatric-dysphoria diagnoses, most prepubescent children who experienced gender distress went on to experience same-sex attraction and ultimately did not pursue a gender transition. —Ben Appel, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026

Harms and Haas also confessed to a sort of parallel dysphoria: In high school, Harms was unable to express their latent femininity, while Haas never felt masculine enough to fit in with the boys; both are non-binary. —Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 23 Feb. 2026

Rejection sensitivity dysphoria can cause intense emotional pain. —Korin Miller, SELF, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, borrowed from Greek dysphoría "malaise, discomfort, vexation," from dýsphoros "hard to bear, grievous" (from dys- dys- + -phoros, nominal ablaut derivative from the base of phérein "to carry, bear") + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at bear entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1842, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dysphoria

• gender dysphoria

Rhymes for dysphoria

• chorea
• correa
• doria
• gloria
• scoria
• shorea
• thoria
• aporia
• centaurea
• euphoria
• septoria
• signoria

Medical Definition

dysphoria

noun

dys·​pho·​ria dis-ˈfōr-ē-ə, -ˈfȯr- 

1

: a state of feeling very unhappy, uneasy, or dissatisfied

Since early adolescence she had had periods of a few days to a week of dysphoria, crying spells, decreased sleep with early-morning awakening …

—Edmund C. Settle, Jr., The Journal of the American Medical Association

Experimental subjects report intense euphoria, sometimes followed by a "crash," or extreme dysphoria, and a craving for more cocaine.

—Craig Van Dyke and Robert Byck, Scientific American

compare euphoria sense 1

2

: gender dysphoria

Gender confirmation surgery … can assist most patients in relieving their dysphoria and reduce the risk of associated symptoms such as depression, suicidality, anxiety, drug abuse, and social isolation.

—Nick Esmonde et al., Journal of Craniofacial Surgery