psychotic
adjective
psy·chot·ic
sī-ˈkä-tik 
1
medical
: of, relating to, marked by, or affected with psychosis
a psychotic patient
psychotic behavior
2
sometimes offensive
: exhibiting or suggestive of mental or emotional unsoundness or instability
—not used technically
Note: The nontechnical use of psychotic is increasingly viewed as a trivialization of mental illness.
psychotic
noun
plural psychotics
Synonyms of psychotic
Examples of psychotic in a Sentence
He was diagnosed as psychotic.
a psychotic patient who was recently admitted
Recent Examples on the Web
Medication non-adherence, or not taking medication as prescribed, is common but more challenging and risky for people with psychotic disorders, which the Assertive Community Treatment program sought to help with.
—
Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 24 Mar. 2026
Among Queenslanders with severe mental illness, those with psychotic disorders are more than three times as likely to attempt jumps from high places or in front of moving vehicles.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Prior to their nuptials, the Danforth family’s in-house glam squad cleans Grace up, and that’s when Ursula approaches her to reconsider her plan to wed her psychotic sibling.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Mar. 2026
Using marijuana also did not improve other mental health conditions such as anorexia nervosa; bipolar disorder; obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD; or psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, Wilson said.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for psychotic
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Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 24 Mar. 2026
Among Queenslanders with severe mental illness, those with psychotic disorders are more than three times as likely to attempt jumps from high places or in front of moving vehicles.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Prior to their nuptials, the Danforth family’s in-house glam squad cleans Grace up, and that’s when Ursula approaches her to reconsider her plan to wed her psychotic sibling.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Mar. 2026
Using marijuana also did not improve other mental health conditions such as anorexia nervosa; bipolar disorder; obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD; or psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, Wilson said.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for psychotic
Cite this Entry
“Psychotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychotic. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
psychotic
1 of 2 adjective
psy·chot·ic
sī-ˈkät-ik
: of, relating to, marked by, or affected with psychosis
psychotic
2 of 2 noun
: a psychotic individual
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