pathologize
verb
pa·thol·o·gize
pə-ˈthä-lə-ˌjīz 
pathologized; pathologizing
: to view or characterize as medically or psychologically abnormal
natural hormonal shifts have been pathologized—
Joyce C. Mills
Joyce C. Mills
Examples of pathologize in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Still, many people, including those in the fat acceptance movement, do not believe their bodies should be pathologized.
—Andrea Kane, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024
If programs pathologize some teen behaviors, parents are often frightened, leaving them to feel as if sending their kid away is their only option.
—Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024
This is not to pathologize conspiracy believers, who, in any case, are hard to pigeonhole.
—Keith Kloor, Scientific American, 9 Feb. 2024
Caroline Hickman, a researcher on eco-anxiety from the University of Bath, cautions that the feelings of worry, grief, despair, and despondency associated with eco-anxiety should not be pathologized.
—Tori Tsui, WIRED, 22 Jan. 2024
Both of these differences have been measure many times from the position of pathologizing neurodivergent people.
—Nancy Doyle, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023
Although the decluttering movement can sometimes pathologize a close relationship with objects, our connection with our belongings is not to be dismissed.
—Britt Peterson, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2023
The character was narrated as so self-evidently terrific, so authentically in touch with their desires, so honest and fulfilled and free that dissenters were implicitly pathologized as part of the oppressive society Che transcended in their journey to self-acceptance.
—Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 21 June 2023
Medicine was never set up to value Black lives, which is reflected not only in health outcomes that often pathologize Black people but also in who has access to medical school, who graduates, who gets elite fellowships—all the building blocks for a successful medical career.
—Torian Easterling, Time, 18 June 2020
Andrea Kane, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024
If programs pathologize some teen behaviors, parents are often frightened, leaving them to feel as if sending their kid away is their only option.
—Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024
This is not to pathologize conspiracy believers, who, in any case, are hard to pigeonhole.
—Keith Kloor, Scientific American, 9 Feb. 2024
Caroline Hickman, a researcher on eco-anxiety from the University of Bath, cautions that the feelings of worry, grief, despair, and despondency associated with eco-anxiety should not be pathologized.
—Tori Tsui, WIRED, 22 Jan. 2024
Both of these differences have been measure many times from the position of pathologizing neurodivergent people.
—Nancy Doyle, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023
Although the decluttering movement can sometimes pathologize a close relationship with objects, our connection with our belongings is not to be dismissed.
—Britt Peterson, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2023
The character was narrated as so self-evidently terrific, so authentically in touch with their desires, so honest and fulfilled and free that dissenters were implicitly pathologized as part of the oppressive society Che transcended in their journey to self-acceptance.
—Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 21 June 2023
Medicine was never set up to value Black lives, which is reflected not only in health outcomes that often pathologize Black people but also in who has access to medical school, who graduates, who gets elite fellowships—all the building blocks for a successful medical career.
—Torian Easterling, Time, 18 June 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pathologize.' 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
1649, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near pathologize
Cite this Entry
“Pathologize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathologize. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Medical Definition
pathologize
transitive verb
pa·thol·o·gize
variants
or chiefly British pathologise
-ˌjīz
pathologized or chiefly British pathologised; pathologizing or chiefly British pathologising
: to view or characterize as medically or psychologically abnormal
natural hormonal shifts have been pathologized—Joyce C. Mills
Joyce C. Millspathologizing childhood behavior—Ruth Shalit
Ruth Shalit
pathologization
noun
or chiefly British pathologisation
pə-ˌthäl-ə-jə-ˈzā-shən
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