personality disorder
noun
plural personality disorders
: any of various psychological disorders that are characterized by persistent inflexible or impaired patterns of thought and behavior that usually cause difficulties in forming and maintaining interpersonal relationships and in meeting the daily demands of one's personal and work life and that typically become apparent during adolescence or early adulthood
Note: Personality disorders are typically accompanied by three types of presentations: intense and unstable emotions, eccentric and odd behavior, or extreme fear or nervousness.
As a diagnosable personality disorder, narcissism occurs more often in males than females, often developing in the teenage years or early adulthood and becoming more extreme with age.—
Jane E. Brody
Jane E. BrodyRecent studies have shown that personality disorders, especially the one seen most frequently in clinical settings—borderline personality disorder—are common …, are associated with high levels of self-injury and suicide, and have a considerable, stressful effect on families.—S. Charles Schultz
see antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, multiple personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder
S. Charles SchultzExamples of personality disorder in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These episodes are also a painful reminder of my sister, who has a personality disorder and exhibits similar behavior toward me.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2024
No one has been able to monetize a terrible German accent and a personality disorder as effectively as Anna Delvey.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2024
But some psychiatrists contended that the vulnerability criteria overlapped too much with those of other personality disorders.
—Diana Kwon, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2023
These include psychosis, social anxiety disorder, avoidant personality disorder, depressive disorders, Internet addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 7 Aug. 2024
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R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2024
No one has been able to monetize a terrible German accent and a personality disorder as effectively as Anna Delvey.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2024
But some psychiatrists contended that the vulnerability criteria overlapped too much with those of other personality disorders.
—Diana Kwon, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2023
These include psychosis, social anxiety disorder, avoidant personality disorder, depressive disorders, Internet addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for personality disorder
Dictionary Entries Near personality disorder
Cite this Entry
“Personality disorder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/personality%20disorder. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
personality disorder
noun
: any of various psychological disorders that are characterized by persistent inflexible or impaired patterns of thought and behavior that usually cause difficulties in forming and maintaining interpersonal relationships and in meeting the daily demands of one's personal and work life and that typically become apparent during adolescence or early adulthood
Note: Personality disorders are typically accompanied by three types of presentations: intense and unstable emotions, eccentric and odd behavior, or extreme fear or nervousness.
As a diagnosable personality disorder, narcissism occurs more often in males than females, often developing in the teenage years or early adulthood and becoming more extreme with age.—Jane E. Brody
Jane E. BrodyRecent studies have shown that personality disorders, especially the one seen most frequently in clinical settings—borderline personality disorder—are common …, are associated with high levels of self-injury and suicide, and have a considerable, stressful effect on families.—S. Charles Schultz
see antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, multiple personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder
S. Charles SchultzLove words? Need even more definitions?
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