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

Since expanding from theater into film, writer-director Florian Zeller has specialized in examining the pressure of mental health issues on families — dealing with dementia in The Father and depression in The Son, both based on his plays.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
As in this year’s other notable book about dementia, Ben Lerner’s Transcription, the fritzing out of David’s memory seems primarily like a language disorder.

— Emma Alpern, Vulture, 7 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

But for a law firm ready to convert AI mania into billable hours, there’s a ready payoff at hand.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Still On The Docket 5 biggest unanswered questions When hockey’s news cycle started slowing down back in early July-ish, post-offer-sheet mania, a surprising number of big-time storylines were still left hanging in the air.

— James Mirtle, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of mania

Noun

Clancy was tried in a Massachusetts court of law, one of the few venues where defendants such as Clancy enjoy the presumption of proof for pleas of insanity, once they are allowed to make such a plea.

— Richard E. Vatz, Baltimore Sun, 6 Sep. 2026
Judge Andy Porter found Tracy Walters not guilty by reason of insanity in the December 2021 killing of Cynthia Cervantes, a social worker and Navy veteran.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 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 10 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

loath

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

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

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

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

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes