neurotic
5 synonyms and 1 antonym for neurotic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Excessively anxious or emotionally unstable.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Excessively anxious or emotionally unstable.
“He gets neurotic about being late for meetings.”
Opposites
unneurotic
2. noun
A person prone to excessive anxiety or nervous behavior.
“His friends jokingly call him a neurotic over his constant worrying.”
psychoneurotic
How to use neurotic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
neurotic behavior
get neurotic about
a bit neurotic
Etymology
From neuro- ("nerve") plus -otic ("having a condition"), tracing back to Greek neuron ("nerve"). In use since the 17th century.
Full origin of neurotic →Frequently asked questions
What does “neurotic” mean?
The word “neurotic” means excessively anxious or emotionally unstable. In plain terms, overly anxious or nervous, often about small things.
How do you pronounce “neurotic”?
“Neurotic” is pronounced noor-RO-tihk (/n(j)ʊəˈɹɒtɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “neurotic” in a sentence?
Here is “neurotic” used in a sentence: “He gets neurotic about being late for meetings.”
What is another word for “neurotic”?
Words with a similar meaning to “neurotic” include jitterbug, nervous wreck, obsessive and worrywart.
What part of speech is “neurotic”?
Depending on how it is used, “neurotic” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “neurotic” come from?
The word “neurotic” dates back to around 1600 and comes from Greek. From neuro- ("nerve") plus -otic ("having a condition"), tracing back to Greek neuron ("nerve"). In use since the 17th century.
How many meanings does “neurotic” have?
“Neurotic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: excessively anxious or emotionally unstable.
