split personality
noun
1
a
: schizophrenia
—not used technically
b
: multiple personality disorder
—not used technically
2
: a dual nature or character
a city with a split personality
Examples of split personality in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The noise adds to the drama, as much psychological as physical, in a way no other road car can match, making for a dangerously charismatic split personality worth every one of its seven figures.
—
Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024
This entertaining split personality shines when seen on foot, and with the Kita (north) and Minami (south) areas of the central tourist corridor mostly following a grid, Osaka is extremely easy to navigate.
—Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2023
Private equity’s labor market is showing a split personality, with aggressive hiring and layoffs taking place at once, say people who work with buyout firms on staffing.
—Chris Cumming, WSJ, 16 June 2023
But the troubled actor, ironically, brings to their character (or, rather, characters) an intriguing sense of duality — a split personality — that offers the film’s most accessible and intriguing interpretation of the multiverse: a man at war with himself.
—Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 12 June 2023
Find a better example of America’s split personality than that contradiction.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023
This time no split personality.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 12 Nov. 2022
There was a sort of split personality there.
—Ronn Blitzer, Fox News, 10 Nov. 2022
The Porsche Panamera has a split personality.
—Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 6 Apr. 2022
Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024
This entertaining split personality shines when seen on foot, and with the Kita (north) and Minami (south) areas of the central tourist corridor mostly following a grid, Osaka is extremely easy to navigate.
—Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2023
Private equity’s labor market is showing a split personality, with aggressive hiring and layoffs taking place at once, say people who work with buyout firms on staffing.
—Chris Cumming, WSJ, 16 June 2023
But the troubled actor, ironically, brings to their character (or, rather, characters) an intriguing sense of duality — a split personality — that offers the film’s most accessible and intriguing interpretation of the multiverse: a man at war with himself.
—Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 12 June 2023
Find a better example of America’s split personality than that contradiction.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023
This time no split personality.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 12 Nov. 2022
There was a sort of split personality there.
—Ronn Blitzer, Fox News, 10 Nov. 2022
The Porsche Panamera has a split personality.
—Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 6 Apr. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'split personality.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of split personality was
in 1919
Dictionary Entries Near split personality
Cite this Entry
“Split personality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/split%20personality. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
split personality
noun1
: a mental and emotional disorder in which the personality becomes separated into two or more parts each of which controls behavior part of the time
2
: a double character or nature
a city with a split personality
Medical Definition
split personality
noun1
: schizophrenia
—not used technically
2
: multiple personality disorder
—not used technically
More from Merriam-Webster on split personality
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about split personality
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