hypochondria
noun
hy·po·chon·dria
ˌhī-pə-ˈkän-drē-ə 
: excessive concern about one's health especially when accompanied by imagined physical ailments
But we all have just a touch of hypochondria. Who can read the symptoms of bubonic plague and not cry, "Hey, that sounds like what I've got."—
Bob Swift
Bob Swift
specifically
: illness anxiety disorder
Hypochondria involves persistent, unfounded fears about having a serious disease. It affects about 5 percent of patients who seek help from primary-care doctors. —The Associated Press
The Associated Press Examples of hypochondria in a Sentence
She fueled her hypochondria by reading articles about rare diseases.
Recent Examples on the Web
Changing the approach to identifying and treating hypochondria requires health care professionals to strike a challenging — but necessary — balance of thoroughly vetting their patients’ claims while remaining cautious of not overselling or recommending a battery of tests.
—Hal Rosenbluth, STAT, 17 June 2024
Referrals to mental health professionals who treat hypochondria with cognitive behavioral therapy or medications the Food and Drug Administration has approved for treating hypochondria will create a realistic approach to addressing and validating people living with hypochondria.
—Hal Rosenbluth, STAT, 17 June 2024
She’s got your backs, opening with the moment her own lifelong, free-range hypochondria probably began — when a sweet high school classmate suddenly died of Hodgkin’s disease.
—Joan Frank, BostonGlobe.com, 11 May 2023
Early on, many doctors, predictably, dismissed these cases as the result of anxiety or hypochondria.
—Meghan O'Rourke, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2021
The former is a consequence of my hypochondria and its associated germophobia.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 5 Jan. 2011
Tindaro’s perfect pedigree as an eligible bachelor is undermined by his insufferable attitude, rampant hypochondria, and blunt disdain for women.
—Breanna Bell, Variety, 14 Dec. 2022
And Dostoyevsky, with the infernal reveler ejected, is relieved that second of his hemorrhoids, his gambling habit, his seizures, his fevers, his depression, his hypochondria, his appalling futuristic intuitions and obsessions.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 19 Oct. 2021
To suggest otherwise is nothing short of political hypochondria.
—Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 12 Aug. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Hal Rosenbluth, STAT, 17 June 2024
Referrals to mental health professionals who treat hypochondria with cognitive behavioral therapy or medications the Food and Drug Administration has approved for treating hypochondria will create a realistic approach to addressing and validating people living with hypochondria.
—Hal Rosenbluth, STAT, 17 June 2024
She’s got your backs, opening with the moment her own lifelong, free-range hypochondria probably began — when a sweet high school classmate suddenly died of Hodgkin’s disease.
—Joan Frank, BostonGlobe.com, 11 May 2023
Early on, many doctors, predictably, dismissed these cases as the result of anxiety or hypochondria.
—Meghan O'Rourke, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2021
The former is a consequence of my hypochondria and its associated germophobia.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 5 Jan. 2011
Tindaro’s perfect pedigree as an eligible bachelor is undermined by his insufferable attitude, rampant hypochondria, and blunt disdain for women.
—Breanna Bell, Variety, 14 Dec. 2022
And Dostoyevsky, with the infernal reveler ejected, is relieved that second of his hemorrhoids, his gambling habit, his seizures, his fevers, his depression, his hypochondria, his appalling futuristic intuitions and obsessions.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 19 Oct. 2021
To suggest otherwise is nothing short of political hypochondria.
—Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 12 Aug. 2021
Dictionary Entries Near hypochondria
Cite this Entry
“Hypochondria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypochondria. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hypochondria
noun
hy·po·chon·dria
ˌhī-pə-ˈkän-drē-ə
: an abnormal concern about one's health especially when accompanied by imagined physical ailments
Medical Definition
hypochondria
noun
hy·po·chon·dria
ˌhī-pə-ˈkän-drē-ə
: excessive concern about one's health especially when accompanied by imagined physical ailments
specifically
: illness anxiety disorder
Hypochondria involves persistent, unfounded fears about having a serious disease. It affects about 5 percent of patients who seek help from primary-care doctors. —The Associated Press
The Associated Press Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share