psychological
adjective
psy·cho·log·i·cal
ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 
variants
or less commonly psychologic
1
a
: of or relating to psychology
psychological research
b
: of, relating to, or occurring in the mind : mental
psychological distress
psychological disorders
2
: directed toward, influencing, or acting on the mind especially in relation to an individual's willpower or behavioral motivation
psychological warfare
psychological strategies
psychologically
adverb
Since losing its Winston Cup [NASCAR] races, the town of North Wilkesboro has suffered economically and psychologically.
—
Derek H. Alderman et al.
Derek H. Alderman et al.
To gas light is to psychologically manipulate a person to the point where they question their own sanity …
—Lauren Duca
Lauren Duca
Examples of psychological in a Sentence
a psychological rather than a physical condition
suffered from psychological disorders all of his life
Recent Examples on the Web
The clean prose, self-criticism, and psychological insight give Young Man in a Hurry a reason to exist beyond legitimizing a book tour through the early-primary and swing states.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Tiger parenting and paternal psychological control in China are associated with pornography use by adolescent boys, and smartphone addiction increases the risk of poor sleep among Chinese university students by 184 percent.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Your psychological safety net gets thinner.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
The course, which is called Menopause Mentor, will teach trainers and others about the specific physiological, psychological, social and hormonal changes women face in menopause.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for psychological
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Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Tiger parenting and paternal psychological control in China are associated with pornography use by adolescent boys, and smartphone addiction increases the risk of poor sleep among Chinese university students by 184 percent.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Your psychological safety net gets thinner.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
The course, which is called Menopause Mentor, will teach trainers and others about the specific physiological, psychological, social and hormonal changes women face in menopause.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for psychological
Cite this Entry
“Psychological.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychological. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
psychological
adjective
psy·cho·log·i·cal
ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl
variants
also psychologic
1
a
: of or relating to psychology
psychological research
b
: of, relating to, or occurring in the mind : mental
psychological distress
psychological disorders
2
: meant to influence the will or mind
psychological warfare
Medical Definition
psychological
adjective
psy·cho·log·i·cal
ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl
variants
also psychologic
1
a
: relating to, characteristic of, directed toward, influencing, arising in, or acting through the mind especially in its affective or cognitive functions
psychological phenomena
the psychological aspects of a problem
b
: directed toward, influencing, or acting on the mind especially in relation to an individual's willpower or behavioral motivation
psychological warfare
2
: relating to, concerned with, deriving from, or used in psychology
psychological research
psychological tests
a psychological clinic
psychologically
adverb
-ē
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