as in paranoid
having or showing a very nervous or disordered state of mind
Her neurotic tendencies tend to manifest in her obsessive need for cleanliness. Our dog is a bit neurotic; she tends to panic around strangers.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of neurotic
Posey, meanwhile, played the role of a young urban professional who, along with her equally neurotic husband, owns a Weimaraner.
—
Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025
Where Mazin, 53, is voluble, demonstrative and unabashedly neurotic, Druckmann, 46, can be sphinxlike in his measured calm.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 5 Mar. 2025
Sadly, her friends weren’t into neurotic lizard babies, so that was that.
—Heather Havrilesky, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
Some people actually became less neurotic—that is, less depressed and anxious—after, say, a cancer diagnosis.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neurotic
Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025
Where Mazin, 53, is voluble, demonstrative and unabashedly neurotic, Druckmann, 46, can be sphinxlike in his measured calm.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 5 Mar. 2025
Sadly, her friends weren’t into neurotic lizard babies, so that was that.
—Heather Havrilesky, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
Some people actually became less neurotic—that is, less depressed and anxious—after, say, a cancer diagnosis.
—Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neurotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neurotic
Adjective
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Mastroianni, who co-wrote the script with Sloan, carries the film with her paranoid performance as Frankie.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
4 Apr. 2025
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That’s too bad for several reasons, including Lee’s meticulous reconstruction of Hong Kong and Shanghai under Japanese occupation, paranoid, perilous places in which anyone could be working with the occupying forces or conspiring against them.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The counselor also told police Trotman had had a previous psychotic break in which he was found wandering the woods.—
Peter Hermann,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2023
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Lewis prescribed Price anti-psychotic medication after a mental health referral Sept. 1.—
Thomas Saccente,
Arkansas Online,
17 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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This unstable dwelling, with its crumbling walls and lack of proper bedrooms for the children, comes to stand for a far more sinister lack of boundaries.—
Leslie Camhi,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2025
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If someone is making credible threats or is mentally unstable, existing laws already allow for arrests, mental health evaluations, and emergency detentions—all of which come with constitutional safeguards.—
Lee Habeeb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Many Americans are worried that their First Amendment right to free speech is fading.—
Leila Fadel,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2025
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The patient’s toe had been amputated because of an infection causing unbearable pain and Dr Shaik, a neurology resident overseeing her care was worried.—
Hansa Bhargava,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Not that Wendlinger is anxious for her time with the Mustangs to end.—
Michael Osipoff,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
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Friday, a government report showed that the U.S. labor market held up better than expected in March despite the federal government’s layoffs, the crackdown on immigrants, and surveys showing that consumers and businesses are increasingly anxious about the economy.—
Josh Fellman,
Quartz,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Teachers are nervous about a new online portal where students or parents can file complaints about diversity, equity and inclusion lessons in class with the U.S. Department of Education.—
Leila Fadel,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2025
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People get nervous, especially when a show is so popular.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Wall Street has started to get restless as the clock keeps ticking.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
3 Apr. 2025
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Starr will get restless in a month and come running back.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Neurotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neurotic. Accessed 11 Apr. 2025.
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