neurosis
noun
neu·ro·sis
nu̇-ˈrō-səs 
nyu̇-
plural neuroses
nu̇-ˈrō-ˌsēz
nyu̇-
: a mental and emotional disorder that affects only part of the personality, is accompanied by a less distorted perception of reality than in a psychosis, does not result in disturbance of the use of language, and is accompanied by various physical, physiological, and mental disturbances (such as visceral symptoms, anxieties, or phobias)
Examples of neurosis in a Sentence
LBJ by legend watched the evening news about Vietnam simultaneously on three TVs, a ticket to a neurosis and night sweats.
—
Daniel Henninger, Wall Street Journal, 2 Dec. 2005
He's self-conscious about few things, period, and so utterly lacking in neurosis that it's unnerving, frankly.
—Ned Zeman, Vanity Fair, February 2001
None of this official intervention did much to calm the fretfulness about maidservants, for the anxiety about their being both unreliable yet indispensable marked the birth of an authentically bourgeois neurosis.
—Simon Schama, The Embarrassment of Riches, 1988
Daniel Henninger, Wall Street Journal, 2 Dec. 2005
He's self-conscious about few things, period, and so utterly lacking in neurosis that it's unnerving, frankly.
—Ned Zeman, Vanity Fair, February 2001
None of this official intervention did much to calm the fretfulness about maidservants, for the anxiety about their being both unreliable yet indispensable marked the birth of an authentically bourgeois neurosis.
—Simon Schama, The Embarrassment of Riches, 1988
Recent Examples on the Web
My remaining neuroses are laser-directed on his well-being.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2025
And his neurosis with his family makes perfect sense in a way that’s obvious but satisfying.
—Cat Zhang, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2024
Frankly, until a new deal is announced, there should be at least minor neuroses.
—Amy Lawrence, The Athletic, 25 July 2024
Obviously, not all of it, because everyone has their own neuroses about what’s cool and what’s not cool or whatever, and that’s tough when there’s six people.
—Ian Cohen, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neurosis
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Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2025
And his neurosis with his family makes perfect sense in a way that’s obvious but satisfying.
—Cat Zhang, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2024
Frankly, until a new deal is announced, there should be at least minor neuroses.
—Amy Lawrence, The Athletic, 25 July 2024
Obviously, not all of it, because everyone has their own neuroses about what’s cool and what’s not cool or whatever, and that’s tough when there’s six people.
—Ian Cohen, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neurosis
Cite this Entry
“Neurosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neurosis. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
neurosis
noun
neu·ro·sis
n(y)u̇-ˈrō-səs
plural neuroses
-ˈrō-ˌsēz
: any of various mental and emotional disorders that affect only part of a person's personality, are less serious than a psychosis, and involve unusual or extreme reactions (as abnormal fears, depression, or anxiety) to stress and conflict
Medical Definition
neurosis
noun
neu·ro·sis
n(y)u̇-ˈrō-səs
plural neuroses
-ˌsēz
: a mental and emotional disorder that affects only part of the personality, is accompanied by a less distorted perception of reality than in a psychosis, does not result in disturbance of the use of language, and is accompanied by various physical, physiological, and mental disturbances (as visceral symptoms, anxieties, or phobias)
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