as in illness
unusual or excessive concern about your health; a tendency to fear or imagine that you have illnesses that you do not actually have
She fueled her hypochondria by reading articles about rare diseases.
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Recent Examples of hypochondria
Jenner joined Owen Thiele on the January 9 edition of his podcast, In Your Dreams, where their conversation ranged from her first modeling jobs and growing up famous, to her hypochondria, anxiety, and beauty regimen.
—
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
Illness Anxiety Disorder Colloquially, a constant concern for health is known as hypochondria.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2025
Referrals to mental health professionals who treat hypochondria with cognitive behavioral therapy or medications the Food and Drug Administration has approved for treating hypochondria will create a realistic approach to addressing and validating people living with hypochondria.
—Hal Rosenbluth, STAT, 17 June 2024
She’s got your backs, opening with the moment her own lifelong, free-range hypochondria probably began — when a sweet high school classmate suddenly died of Hodgkin’s disease.
—Joan Frank, BostonGlobe.com, 11 May 2023
Tindaro’s perfect pedigree as an eligible bachelor is undermined by his insufferable attitude, rampant hypochondria, and blunt disdain for women.
—Breanna Bell, Variety, 14 Dec. 2022
And Dostoyevsky, with the infernal reveler ejected, is relieved that second of his hemorrhoids, his gambling habit, his seizures, his fevers, his depression, his hypochondria, his appalling futuristic intuitions and obsessions.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 19 Oct. 2021
To suggest otherwise is nothing short of political hypochondria.
—Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 12 Aug. 2021
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
Illness Anxiety Disorder Colloquially, a constant concern for health is known as hypochondria.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 20 Jan. 2025
Referrals to mental health professionals who treat hypochondria with cognitive behavioral therapy or medications the Food and Drug Administration has approved for treating hypochondria will create a realistic approach to addressing and validating people living with hypochondria.
—Hal Rosenbluth, STAT, 17 June 2024
She’s got your backs, opening with the moment her own lifelong, free-range hypochondria probably began — when a sweet high school classmate suddenly died of Hodgkin’s disease.
—Joan Frank, BostonGlobe.com, 11 May 2023
Tindaro’s perfect pedigree as an eligible bachelor is undermined by his insufferable attitude, rampant hypochondria, and blunt disdain for women.
—Breanna Bell, Variety, 14 Dec. 2022
And Dostoyevsky, with the infernal reveler ejected, is relieved that second of his hemorrhoids, his gambling habit, his seizures, his fevers, his depression, his hypochondria, his appalling futuristic intuitions and obsessions.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 19 Oct. 2021
To suggest otherwise is nothing short of political hypochondria.
—Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 12 Aug. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypochondria
Noun
-
The Pistons played without Cade Cunningham (wrist), Isaiah Stewart (illness), Tobias Harris (hip) and Jalen Duren (ankle).—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Vinjamoori explains that while general recommendations for older adults often start lower, needs increase significantly if a person is active, recovering from illness, or trying to rebuild strength.—
Rachel Macpherson,
Outside,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Plant diseases and pests can be spread by reusing dirty flower pots.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
-
In 2024, Patrick's widow Lisa Niemi Swayze teamed up with leading non profit Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to help raise awareness of the disease and increase funding for research.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Somehow, this new sensation emitted an awareness of the magnitude in which skateboarding would warp my life, which only ratcheted up the anxiety of blowing it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The news this week that an ICE agent had shot and killed a woman in Minnesota heightened his anxiety.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This can lead to extreme sickness, weakness, and even paralysis.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
6 Jan. 2026
-
This is actually a cultural sickness.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hypochondria.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypochondria. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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