adj
Uncommon
psychotic
seye-KO-tihk
Psychotic (adj) means relating to or affected by psychosis, especially involving hallucinations or delusions. Example: “He experienced a psychotic episode after months without sleep.”
adj
1
Relating to or affected by psychosis, especially involving hallucinations or delusions.
"He experienced a psychotic episode after months without sleep."
noun
1
A person affected by psychosis.
"The ward was set up to care for patients in acute psychotic states."
How to use psychotic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to a serious break from reality, or someone experiencing that break.
Common mistake
Don't use "psychotic" casually to mean simply "angry" or "crazy" — it's a specific clinical term.
Common pairings
psychotic episode
psychotic break
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Word forms
- Plural
- psychotics
- Comparative
- more psychotic
- Superlative
- most psychotic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He experienced a _____ episode after months without sleep.
Etymology
Formed from psychosis + -tic, attested since the late 1800s.
Class of 1800
psychotic joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
View more →
psycho
psychotic person
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for psychotic
biotic
exotic
erotic
robotic
chaotic
idiotic
neurotic
narcotic
hypnotic
amniotic
probiotic
patriotic
See all rhymes for psychotic →
Frequently asked questions
What does “psychotic” mean?
The word “psychotic” means relating to or affected by psychosis, especially involving hallucinations or delusions. In plain terms, relating to a serious break from reality, or someone experiencing that break.
How do you pronounce “psychotic”?
“Psychotic” is pronounced seye-KO-tihk (/ˌsaɪˈkɒtɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “psychotic” in a sentence?
Here is “psychotic” used in a sentence: “He experienced a psychotic episode after months without sleep.”
What part of speech is “psychotic”?
Depending on how it is used, “psychotic” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “psychotic” come from?
The word “psychotic” dates back to around 1800. Formed from psychosis + -tic, attested since the late 1800s.
Is “psychotic” a common word?
“Psychotic” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “psychotic” have?
“Psychotic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to or affected by psychosis, especially involving hallucinations or delusions.
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