noun
neurosis
nuu-ROH-sihs
noun
1
A pattern of excessive anxiety or fear that is not severe enough to be classed as psychosis but still disrupts everyday functioning.
"His constant worrying about germs bordered on neurosis."
"Therapy helped her work through years of underlying neurosis."
How to Use Neurosis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn anxiety-driven mental disorder, milder than psychosis.
Common mistake
Neurosis involves anxiety while still being in touch with reality; psychosis involves losing touch with reality, such as through delusions or hallucinations.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
neuroses plural
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Etymology
From neuro- ("nerve") plus -sis, originally reflecting the old idea that such disorders came from problems in the nerves.
Rhymes for neurosis
necrosis
hypnosis
fibrosis
diagnosis
prognosis
symbiosis
halitosis
psychosis
cirrhosis
sclerosis
scoliosis
thrombosis
See all rhymes for neurosis →