pathological
adjective
path·o·log·i·cal
ˌpa-thə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 
variants
or less commonly pathologic
1
: of or relating to pathology
pathological research
A pathological examination led to the diagnosis.
2
: altered or caused by disease
pathological changes in the body
also
: indicative of disease
pathological symptoms
3
: being such to a degree that is extreme, excessive, or markedly abnormal
a pathological liar
pathological fear
Examples of pathological in a Sentence
He is a pathological liar.
She has a pathological fear of heights.
pathological changes in the body
Recent Examples on the Web
Work is part of our identity here in a way that people from other countries find at turns fascinating and pathological.
—
Allison Morrow, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Most striking is how Carmichael uses the show to pry apart his own flaws, including his pathological inability to remain monogamous with his new boyfriend.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 28 Mar. 2024
Where are the lines between trauma that can cause a pathological condition and past experiences that can simply inform a generation down the line?
—Thiago Arzua, STAT, 15 Mar. 2024
But the pathological sad is a product of temperament, too.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2024
Psychologists define it as pathological jealousy, with sufferers constantly comparing themselves to their partner’s ex.
Sound familiar?
—Claire Cohen, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2024
Oliver, the pathological liar Keoghan plays in Saltburn, is the first role to become such a large part of his social narrative.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024
We are all shaped by the people who gave us life, their presence or their absence, their loving support or pathological abuse and all the myriad types of influence in between.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2024
And then, cutting through the character drama, is André’s pathological liar intern, Aurore (Louise Chevillotte).
—Ben Croll, Variety, 15 Jan. 2024
Allison Morrow, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Most striking is how Carmichael uses the show to pry apart his own flaws, including his pathological inability to remain monogamous with his new boyfriend.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 28 Mar. 2024
Where are the lines between trauma that can cause a pathological condition and past experiences that can simply inform a generation down the line?
—Thiago Arzua, STAT, 15 Mar. 2024
But the pathological sad is a product of temperament, too.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2024
Psychologists define it as pathological jealousy, with sufferers constantly comparing themselves to their partner’s ex.
Sound familiar?
—Claire Cohen, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2024
Oliver, the pathological liar Keoghan plays in Saltburn, is the first role to become such a large part of his social narrative.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024
We are all shaped by the people who gave us life, their presence or their absence, their loving support or pathological abuse and all the myriad types of influence in between.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2024
And then, cutting through the character drama, is André’s pathological liar intern, Aurore (Louise Chevillotte).
—Ben Croll, Variety, 15 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pathological.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pathological
Cite this Entry
“Pathological.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathological. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
pathological
adjective
patho·log·i·cal
ˌpath-ə-ˈläj-i-kəl
variants
also pathologic
1
: of or relating to pathology
a pathological laboratory
2
: altered or caused by disease
pathological tissue
also
: indicative of disease
pathological lesions
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