pathologize

verb

pa·​thol·​o·​gize pə-ˈthä-lə-ˌjīz How to pronounce pathologize (audio)
pathologized; pathologizing

transitive verb

: to view or characterize as medically or psychologically abnormal
natural hormonal shifts have been pathologizedJoyce C. Mills

Examples of pathologize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The truth is that many of the very traits pathologized in ADHD, such as impulsivity, paying attention off topic, and free association, can become powerful assets when recognized and harnessed. Alison Escalante, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025 Advertisement The rush to pathologize violence also reinforces stigma. Victor Petreca, Time, 21 Aug. 2025 Glass + One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Institutional spaces become battlegrounds of belief in these chamber dramas where power, perception, and dissent are pathologized. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 29 July 2025 As a result, providing ways to manage these feelings without misusing drugs—and without pathologizing those with outlying traits—can be a powerful way to support healthy development. Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for pathologize

Word History

Etymology

pathology + -ize

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pathologize was in 1649

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pathologize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathologize. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

pathologize

transitive verb
pa·​thol·​o·​gize
variants or chiefly British pathologise
-ˌjīz
pathologized or chiefly British pathologised; pathologizing or chiefly British pathologising
: to view or characterize as medically or psychologically abnormal
natural hormonal shifts have been pathologizedJoyce C. Mills
pathologizing childhood behaviorRuth Shalit
pathologization noun
or chiefly British pathologisation
pə-ˌthäl-ə-jə-ˈzā-shən
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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