psychotic

adjective

sī-ˈkä-tik How to pronounce psychotic (audio)
Definition of psychoticnext
sometimes offensive
as in insane
unable to think in a clear or sensible way The identity of the psychotic criminal remains a puzzle.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of psychotic Prosecutors, meanwhile, contend Clancy intentionally planned the killings and was not acting under the effects of a psychotic break, according to the AP. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026 The Drug Enforcement Administration says kratom produces stimulant effects in low doses and sedative effects in high doses, and can lead to psychotic symptoms, and psychological and physiological dependence. — Jake Rosenwasser, CBS News, 13 July 2026 The defense argued that Bland had a psychotic episode due to a COVID infection. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026 The experience in question was a psychotic break that Murray endured in 2017 after spending several months involved with a wellness cult, coming to believe herself capable of powerful healing abilities. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for psychotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for psychotic
  1. insane
  2. maniacal
  3. mad
  4. mental
  5. psycho
  6. crazy
  7. demented
  8. nuts
Adjective
  • However, Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was fined and suspended for five games after last Tuesday’s contest, when two girls sitting courtside in support of Cunnigham said Keaton cursed at them and called them insane.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Continue reading … VIRUS RECKONING — COVID fury explodes as Fauci hearing revives 'insane' lockdown nightmare tales.
    — , FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of insane
Adjective
  • Especially after a clunker of a season in 2025, superstar receiver Justin Jefferson won’t settle for anything other than maniacal attention to detail on and off the field.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 28 July 2026
  • The odd thing about this choice is that, although the DSA’s platform is indeed chock-full of maniacal proposals, on this particular idea, the maniacs have a point.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026
Definition of maniacal
Adjective
  • Alec Hammond, my production designer, is just a mad scientist.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 31 July 2026
  • Fortunately, Alec Hammond, the production designer, is a is a mad scientist.
    — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of mad
Adjective
  • So kudos to the extras who steal scenes from them in the background, flailing like avant-garde dancers when a vicious mental parasite leaps from grandmothers to joggers to security guards on a quest to find something awful.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
  • Life can change in an instant, and someone in a precarious mental state may seem to be improving before taking a sharp turn for the worse.
    — Charles Trepany, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of mental
Adjective
  • Which is psycho, absolutely psycho.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 27 May 2026
  • The key figure turns out to be Alex’s mysterious Aunt Gladys, played in full psycho-biddy drag by Amy Madigan.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
Definition of psycho
Adjective
  • Two of the craziest comebacks of the season came this week, courtesy of teams trying to stay in the American League wild card race.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The last movie had crazy stuff going on with the multiverse, multiple Spider-Men, and rips in the space-time continuum.
    — Chris Lee, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of crazy
Adjective
  • Sánchez’s entry features industrious zombies hot on the tails of some cyclists, while Evans’ installment (the best here) deals with a demented doomsday cult.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026
  • Moments later, Haaland suddenly made one of his almost demented charges, at Senegal’s goalkeeper.
    — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
Definition of demented
Adjective
  • People go nuts over Karen Finley spreading chocolate sauce on her naked breasts on stage.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
  • How nuts and whole grains add up Peanuts lead the nut category, according to Lindsey DeSoto, RD, with Health.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026
Definition of nuts

Browse Nearby Words

psychosis
psychotic
psych (out)
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Cite this Entry

“Psychotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/psychotic. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on psychotic

Nglish: Translation of psychotic for Spanish Speakers

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