psychasthenia

noun

psych·​as·​the·​nia ˌsī-kəs-ˈthē-nē-ə How to pronounce psychasthenia (audio)
: a neurotic state characterized especially by phobias, obsessions, or compulsions that one knows are irrational
psychasthenic
ˌsī-kəs-ˈthe-nik How to pronounce psychasthenia (audio)
adjective or noun

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of psychasthenia was in 1900

Dictionary Entries Near psychasthenia

psychal

psychasthenia

psyche

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Psychasthenia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychasthenia. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

psychasthenia

noun
psych·​as·​the·​nia ˌsī-kəs-ˈthē-nē-ə How to pronounce psychasthenia (audio)
: a neurotic state characterized especially by phobias, obsessions, or compulsions that one knows are irrational
psychasthenic
-ˈthen-ik How to pronounce psychasthenia (audio)
adjective
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of bildungsroman

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

What Did You Just Call Me?

  • brown chihuahua sitting on the floor with squinting eyes looking at the camera
  • Before we went to her house, Hannah told us her aunt was a flibbertigibbet.
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games