SCHIZOPHRENIA Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

schizophrenia

noun

Definition of schizophrenia

as in dementia

technical a very serious mental illness in which someone cannot think or behave normally and often experiences delusions

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 schizophrenia Grannell refused medication or treatment for schizophrenia during his time at a hospital earlier this year, according to the complaint. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026 Today host Emily Kwong talks to Shebani about the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry and how ketogenic metabolic therapy may treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. — Berly McCoy, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026 The same is true of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with psychosis. — Anand Kumar, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026 Reddington said his client suffered from schizophrenia and was in psychosis during the killings, but a jury found McDermott guilty after deliberating for three days. — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for schizophrenia

Recent Examples of Synonyms for schizophrenia

Noun

Among the people who had donated their brains to research, nearly 60% had been diagnosed with dementia, while just under 19% had a neurodegenerative condition listed as a cause of death.

— Mike McRae September 15, New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2026
As for those extra 13 dementia-free years, the NYU study reinforces that what’s good for the heart is good for the brain.

— Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of dementia

Noun

Greg Derr / Pool via The Patriot Ledger Throughout the trial, Reddington argued that Clancy was in the throes of postpartum psychosis and acted on auditory hallucinations that compelled her to carry out the killings.

— Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 8 Sep. 2026
Postpartum mental health challenges are complex, but there is a huge difference between depression and psychosis.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of psychosis

Noun

In the meantime, his insatiable paranoia will be exacerbated by the missing family cat, and his decision to let the alarm company booby trap the house with fog bombs will literally blow up in his face.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026
The project causes his wife Sofia (Cruz) to question their relationship of 17 years as they are drawn deeper into a life of extreme wealth, paranoia and fear.

— Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of paranoia

Noun

But in the common vernacular of what neurosis means—someone whose life is put upon them, who feels weighted by the everyday, who struggles with unadulterated joy—that is me in a nutshell.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026
Wonders is also terrific, a ball of neuroses and repression, envious of Elliot’s exploits.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026

Definition of neurosis

Noun

People with bipolar 2 disorder experience cycles of depression and hypomania, which is less intense than the mania experienced with bipolar 1 disorder.

— Michael Casey, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health condition that is marked by a mix of schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, and mood disorder symptoms, such as depression, mania and a milder form of mania called hypomania, according to the Mayo Clinic.

— Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026

Definition of hypomania

Noun

Fewer than one per cent of Americans charged with felonies plead insanity, and the great majority of those who do have previously been hospitalized with a serious psychiatric condition.

— Ian Parker, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
And the polarizing trial of Lindsay Clancy, a labor-and-delivery nurse who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity after killing her three children in 2023, has captivated the country since July.

— Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of insanity

Browse Nearby Words

schizoid

schizophrenia

schizophrenic

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Schizophrenia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/schizophrenia. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of schizophrenia

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on schizophrenia

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

watershed

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes