neurotic
Neurotic (adj) means Excessively anxious or emotionally unstable. Example: “He gets neurotic about being late for meetings.”
How to use neurotic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOverly anxious or nervous, often about small things.
Word forms
neurotics plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He gets _____ about being late for meetings.
Etymology
From neuro- ("nerve") plus -otic ("having a condition"), tracing back to Greek neuron ("nerve"). In use since the 17th century.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for 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.