pathological

adjective

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path·o·log·i·cal | \ ˌpa-thə-ˈlä-ji-kəl

variants: or less commonly pathologic \ ˌpa-thə-ˈlä-jik

Definition of pathological

1 : of or relating to pathology pathological research A pathological examination led to the diagnosis.

2 : altered or caused by disease pathological changes in the body also : indicative of disease pathological symptoms

3 : being such to a degree that is extreme, excessive, or markedly abnormal a pathological liar pathological fear

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Examples of pathological in a Sentence

He is a pathological liar. She has a pathological fear of heights. pathological changes in the body

Recent Examples on the Web Many behaviors previously considered pathological are now considered essential to protect human health and are applauded as adaptive and resourceful. — David Rosenberg, CNN, "Excessive hand-washing. Tech addiction. Behaviors once considered extreme are now crucial to protect us amid a dangerous pandemic," 29 June 2020 Many behaviors previously considered pathological are now considered essential to protect human health and are applauded as adaptive and resourceful. — David Rosenberg, The Conversation, "Are we all OCD now, with obsessive hand-washing and technology addiction?," 15 June 2020 The television series Hoarders has run in some form for 10 seasons, providing a lurid cautionary tale of the country’s pathological clutterbugs and the emotional pain their habits reflect. — Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, "The End of Minimalism," 8 June 2020 The pathological privileging of a specific, white, muscular, Western idealized version of beauty that is so phenomenally narrow and rigid and limiting and racist and exclusionary. — Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, "Sam Lansky on queer storytelling and moving into fiction with Broken People," 8 June 2020 This treatment of pandemic science is pathological, and threatens our ability to implement effective responses. — Roger Pielke Jr., Wired, "The Mudfight Over ‘Wild-Ass’ Covid Numbers Is Pathological," 22 Apr. 2020 But in animal studies, toxicologists start exposure in early life, look at the pathological changes and see problems. — Ellen Ruppel Shell, Scientific American, "The New Alzheimer’s–Air Pollution Link," 12 May 2020 When his fantasy of becoming president came true, his narcissism developed a pathological dimension. — Katherine Burton, Bloomberg.com, "George Soros In His Own Words: Prepared Remarks for Davos Speech," 10 May 2020 The study acknowledges that nicotine is a drug of abuse and could have severe pathological consequences. — Mckenzie Sadeghi, USA TODAY, "Fact check: Are smokers at less risk for contracting the coronavirus?," 3 May 2020

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