as in paranoid
having or showing a very nervous or disordered state of mind
Her neurotic tendencies tend to manifest in her obsessive need for cleanliness. Our dog is a bit neurotic; she tends to panic around strangers.
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Recent Examples of neurotic
Eichner’s neurotic character is there to enlist Honey in learning the details of his boyfriend’s affair.
—
Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 26 Aug. 2025
The character was kind, genuine, neurotic, a bit nerdy, a hugger with a heart of gold and endearingly funny.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Other challenging dog breeds in the list include Belgian Malinois, which need extensive physical and mental exercise, and without the firm training are prone to neurotic and destructive behavior; Catahoula leopard dogs, also prone to destructive behavior; Chow Chows, and border collies.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2025
Sadly, Harold Gould, who played the earthquake-fearing grandpa in the original, died in 2010, and Willie Garson, who played Tess’ neurotic patient Evan, died in 2021.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neurotic
Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 26 Aug. 2025
The character was kind, genuine, neurotic, a bit nerdy, a hugger with a heart of gold and endearingly funny.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Other challenging dog breeds in the list include Belgian Malinois, which need extensive physical and mental exercise, and without the firm training are prone to neurotic and destructive behavior; Catahoula leopard dogs, also prone to destructive behavior; Chow Chows, and border collies.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2025
Sadly, Harold Gould, who played the earthquake-fearing grandpa in the original, died in 2010, and Willie Garson, who played Tess’ neurotic patient Evan, died in 2021.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neurotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neurotic
paranoid
Adjective
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Bob and Zoyd are both paranoid in the wake of their rebellious pasts.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
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For a long stretch of its opening act, All the President’s Men—the canonical paranoid thriller from 1976—isn’t just about the brewing Watergate scandal, or about the battle between a cagey political machine and an enterprising newspaper.—
K. Austin Collins,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Neurotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neurotic. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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