psychological

adjective

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psy·cho·log·i·cal | \ ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl

variants: or less commonly psychologic \ ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-jik

Definition of psychological

1a : of or relating to psychology

b : mental

2 : directed toward the will or toward the mind specifically in its conative function psychological warfare

Other Words from psychological Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about psychological

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Synonyms & Antonyms for psychological

Synonyms

Antonyms

nonmental

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 These long-term psychological effects were not unforeseen. — Melba Newsome, Scientific American, "‘Cave Syndrome’ Keeps the Vaccinated in Social Isolation," 3 May 2021 Penna and Ryan Morrison wrote the script, which pays a lot more attention to the literal nuts and bolts of trying to salvage the two-year mission than to the psychological and emotional effects on the crew. — Bill Goodykoontz, Detroit Free Press, "You won’t want to tag along with ‘Stowaway’," 23 Apr. 2021 Penna and Ryan Morrison wrote the script, which pays a lot more attention to the literal nuts and bolts of trying to salvage the two-year mission than to the psychological and emotional effects on the crew. — Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, "Why 'Stowaway' is a trip you won't want to tag along for — despite Toni Collette," 22 Apr. 2021 Craig Haney, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an authority on the psychological effects of incarceration, said that isolation can have profoundly negative effects anywhere, but especially in prison settings. — New York Times, "In Vermont, Isolating Inmates Kept Covid at Bay, but at a Price," 21 Apr. 2021 Parents worried about the potentially negative psychological effects on kids. — Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, "Hide likes? Facebook and Instagram will leave that decision up to you," 16 Apr. 2021 Menzies explores the psychological effects of Philip’s family having been overthrown and exiled from Greece, only for his mother to later be diagnosed with schizophrenia and committed to a sanatorium. — Washington Post, "How ‘The Crown’ shaped a generation’s view of Prince Philip," 9 Apr. 2021 Sanderson did note that having fans back in the stadium would have a bigger impact on the negative psychological effects of the pandemic. — Ivan Pereira, ABC News, "Baseball stadiums are reopening this spring. What's the COVID risk?," 18 Mar. 2021 The psychological side-effects following infection can be quite serious as well, doctors warn, with many COVID-19 patients likely to experience some form of psychiatric disorders, including long-term issues that might need treatment. — Chris Smith, BGR, "So many coronavirus survivors develop these long-term symptoms, which can be crippling," 6 Mar. 2021

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

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Learn More about psychological

Dictionary Entries near psychological

psychological distance

psychological hedonism

Statistics for psychological

Last Updated

10 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Psychological.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychological. Accessed 11 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for psychological

psychological

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of psychological

: of or relating to the mind

: of or relating to the study of the mind : of or relating to psychology

See the full definition for psychological in the English Language Learners Dictionary

psychological

adjective

psy·cho·log·i·cal | \ ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl

Kids Definition of psychological

: of or relating to psychology or the mind psychological research psychological distress

psychological

adjective

psy·cho·log·i·cal | \ ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl

variants: also psychologic \ -ik

Medical Definition of psychological

1a : 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 the will or toward the mind specifically in its conative function psychological warfare