hypochondriac

2 synonyms for hypochondriac, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A person who is excessively and persistently worried about having a serious illness, despite little or no medical evidence.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

valetudinarian hypochondriacal

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A person who is excessively and persistently worried about having a serious illness, despite little or no medical evidence.

“As a hypochondriac, he googled every headache as a possible tumor.”

valetudinarian

2. adjective

Relating to or affected by this kind of excessive health anxiety.

“Her hypochondriac tendencies meant frequent, unnecessary doctor visits.”

hypochondriacal

How to use hypochondriac

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a total hypochondriac hypochondriac tendencies

Etymology

From French hypocondriaque, from Greek hypokhondriakos, literally "of the region below the ribs" — ancient physicians once linked that area of the body to melancholy and health anxiety.

Full origin of hypochondriac →

Frequently asked questions

What does “hypochondriac” mean?

The word “hypochondriac” means a person who is excessively and persistently worried about having a serious illness, despite little or no medical evidence. In plain terms, someone who constantly worries they're seriously ill, usually without real medical cause.

How do you pronounce “hypochondriac”?

“Hypochondriac” is pronounced heye-poh-KOND-ree-ak (/ˌhaɪpoʊˈkɑndɹiæk/ in IPA).

How do you use “hypochondriac” in a sentence?

Here is “hypochondriac” used in a sentence: “As a hypochondriac, he googled every headache as a possible tumor.”

What part of speech is “hypochondriac”?

Depending on how it is used, “hypochondriac” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “hypochondriac” come from?

The word “hypochondriac” comes from French. From French hypocondriaque, from Greek hypokhondriakos, literally "of the region below the ribs" — ancient physicians once linked that area of the body to melancholy and health anxiety.

How many meanings does “hypochondriac” have?

“Hypochondriac” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who is excessively and persistently worried about having a serious illness, despite little or no medical evidence.

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