cyclothymic

adjective

cy·​clo·​thy·​mic ˌsī-klə-ˈthī-mik How to pronounce cyclothymic (audio)
: relating to or being a mood disorder characterized by alternating episodes of depression and elation in a form less severe than that of bipolar disorder

Examples of cyclothymic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Cyclothymia or cyclothymic disorder is defined by recurrent hypomanic and depressive symptoms that are not so severe to count as clinical mania or clinical depression. Michelle Pugle, Health, 23 Jan. 2023 That means there’s not enough research on medications that can best treat cyclothymic disorder or unspecified bipolar disorder. Ashley Abramson, SELF, 11 Feb. 2022 Mood disorders can take a variety of forms, including MDD or BD as mentioned above, as well as depression that is a result of substance use or medication; Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD); or cyclothymic disorder, which causes unpredictable emotional swings. Garen Staglin, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cyclothymic was in 1909

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Cite this Entry

“Cyclothymic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyclothymic. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

cyclothymic

1 of 2 adjective
cy·​clo·​thy·​mic -ˈthī-mik How to pronounce cyclothymic (audio)
: relating to, having, or being a mood disorder characterized by alternating short episodes of depression and hypomania in a form less severe than that of bipolar disorder compare cycloid

cyclothymic

2 of 2 noun
: a cyclothymic individual
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