adj
Uncommon
pathological
path-uh-LOJ-ih-kuhl
Pathological (adj) means relating to disease or the study of disease. Example: “The tumour showed pathological changes under the microscope.”
adj
1
Relating to disease or the study of disease.
"The tumour showed pathological changes under the microscope."
2
Extreme, compulsive, or unreasonable, as if caused by a mental disorder.
"Paul Canning's performance as Julian gives the character an emotional center that is not in the script: He is vulnerable without being pathological, needy without being pathetic."
— Michael Bronski, Good Production -- Bad Play (1981)
"He's a pathological liar who can't help himself."
How to use pathological
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither medically related to disease, or, informally, describing behaviour so extreme it seems compulsive or disordered.
Common pairings
pathological liar
pathological condition
pathologically afraid
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more pathological
- Superlative
- most pathological
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The tumour showed _____ changes under the microscope.
Etymology
From "pathology" plus the adjective suffix "-ical."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
well-behaved
Related words
Rhymes for pathological
See all rhymes for pathological →Frequently asked questions
What does “pathological” mean?
The word “pathological” means relating to disease or the study of disease. In plain terms, either medically related to disease, or, informally, describing behaviour so extreme it seems compulsive or disordered.
How do you pronounce “pathological”?
“Pathological” is pronounced path-uh-LOJ-ih-kuhl (/ˌpæθ.əˈlɑd͡ʒ.ɪ.kəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “pathological” in a sentence?
Here is “pathological” used in a sentence: “The tumour showed pathological changes under the microscope.”
What is the opposite of “pathological”?
The opposite of “pathological” — its antonyms — is well-behaved.
What part of speech is “pathological”?
“Pathological” is an adjective.
Is “pathological” a common word?
“Pathological” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “pathological” have?
“Pathological” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to disease or the study of disease.
