neurospicy

adjective

neu·​ro·​spicy ˌnu̇r-ō-ˈspī-sē 

ˌnyu̇r-

slang, sometimes offensive

: neurodivergent

I had friends, I was chatty, but I never really felt like I fit in. I didn't belong. I know now that's because of my neurospicy condition, but at the time I just thought I was weird.

—Vikki Martin, quoted at RSVP Live (Dublin, Ireland)

To say "I'm a bit neurospicy" is to strike a chord of shared understanding without the heavy cloak of clinical terms. It's inviting, approachable, and yes, it's got a zest that many find irresistibly empowering. But, as with any new term or trend, it's essential to approach it with nuance. For some, neurospicy feels … out of sync with the gravity of their experiences.

—Randi Owsley

also : neurodiverse sense 2

Being a neurospicy household is something very close to our hearts and we'd like to support others too.

—Kate Gilliver, quoted in The Bolton (England) News

neurospiciness noun

… her obvious neurospiciness and deep understanding of rules allow her to deal with faeries more effectively than most mortals can.

—Kirkus Reviews

Usage of Neurospicy

While some neurodivergent individuals believe that neurospicy trivializes their experiences, its use as a positive self-descriptor continues to increase among people who identify as neurodivergent. Additionally, some feel neurospicy should not be used synonymously with neurodiverse in reference to groups of individuals. In general, the terms neurodivergent and neurodiverse are preferred.

Word History

Etymology

neuro- (in neurodivergent) + spicy (presumably as a punning replacement for "mild" in traditional descriptions of a condition)

First Known Use

circa 2022, in the meaning defined above