psychological
adjective
psy·cho·log·i·cal
ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 
variants
or less commonly psychologic
1
a
: of or relating to psychology
psychological research
b
: of, relating to, or occurring in the mind : mental
psychological distress
psychological disorders
2
: directed toward, influencing, or acting on the mind especially in relation to an individual's willpower or behavioral motivation
psychological warfare
psychological strategies
psychologically
adverb
Since losing its Winston Cup [NASCAR] races, the town of North Wilkesboro has suffered economically and psychologically.
—
Derek H. Alderman et al.
Derek H. Alderman et al.
To gas light is to psychologically manipulate a person to the point where they question their own sanity …
—Lauren Duca
Lauren Duca
Examples of psychological in a Sentence
a psychological rather than a physical condition
suffered from psychological disorders all of his life
Recent Examples on the Web
By just being in the bullpen, Yada said, Yamamoto could provide the Dodgers a psychological edge over the Toronto Blue Jays.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
In other words, the more that social media turns users from observers into participants in political conflict, the greater the psychological toll appears to be.
—Stephen Neely, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2026
For a society that still carries those memories, the psychological impact is profound.
—Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Still, the psychological impact of seeing a sub-6% mortgage rate listed by FreddieMac can't be understated, especially following the volatility in the space in recent years.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for psychological
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
In other words, the more that social media turns users from observers into participants in political conflict, the greater the psychological toll appears to be.
—Stephen Neely, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2026
For a society that still carries those memories, the psychological impact is profound.
—Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Still, the psychological impact of seeing a sub-6% mortgage rate listed by FreddieMac can't be understated, especially following the volatility in the space in recent years.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for psychological
Cite this Entry
“Psychological.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychological. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
psychological
adjective
psy·cho·log·i·cal
ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl
variants
also psychologic
1
a
: of or relating to psychology
psychological research
b
: of, relating to, or occurring in the mind : mental
psychological distress
psychological disorders
2
: meant to influence the will or mind
psychological warfare
Medical Definition
psychological
adjective
psy·cho·log·i·cal
ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl
variants
also psychologic
1
a
: relating to, characteristic of, directed toward, influencing, arising in, or acting through the mind especially in its affective or cognitive functions
psychological phenomena
the psychological aspects of a problem
b
: directed toward, influencing, or acting on the mind especially in relation to an individual's willpower or behavioral motivation
psychological warfare
2
: relating to, concerned with, deriving from, or used in psychology
psychological research
psychological tests
a psychological clinic
psychologically
adverb
-ē
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