neurosis
noun
neu·ro·sis
nu̇-ˈrō-səs 
nyu̇-
plural neuroses
nu̇-ˈrō-ˌsēz
nyu̇-
: a mental and emotional disorder that affects only part of the personality, is accompanied by a less distorted perception of reality than in a psychosis, does not result in disturbance of the use of language, and is accompanied by various physical, physiological, and mental disturbances (such as visceral symptoms, anxieties, or phobias)
Examples of neurosis in a Sentence
LBJ by legend watched the evening news about Vietnam simultaneously on three TVs, a ticket to a neurosis and night sweats.
—
Daniel Henninger, Wall Street Journal, 2 Dec. 2005
He's self-conscious about few things, period, and so utterly lacking in neurosis that it's unnerving, frankly.
—Ned Zeman, Vanity Fair, February 2001
None of this official intervention did much to calm the fretfulness about maidservants, for the anxiety about their being both unreliable yet indispensable marked the birth of an authentically bourgeois neurosis.
—Simon Schama, The Embarrassment of Riches, 1988
Daniel Henninger, Wall Street Journal, 2 Dec. 2005
He's self-conscious about few things, period, and so utterly lacking in neurosis that it's unnerving, frankly.
—Ned Zeman, Vanity Fair, February 2001
None of this official intervention did much to calm the fretfulness about maidservants, for the anxiety about their being both unreliable yet indispensable marked the birth of an authentically bourgeois neurosis.
—Simon Schama, The Embarrassment of Riches, 1988
Recent Examples on the Web
If only his many neuroses didn’t keep getting in the way.
—Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Explores generational neuroses in an Indian family.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Oct. 2024
Sometimes, that crap is our own fears, our own neuroses, our own limitations, our own beliefs.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Sep. 2024
Mayer, who grew up in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, is a whirling dervish of off-the-cuff neuroses onstage, a relatable queen on TikTok, and a blunt and brash storyteller on the page.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for neurosis 
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Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 5 Nov. 2024
Explores generational neuroses in an Indian family.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Oct. 2024
Sometimes, that crap is our own fears, our own neuroses, our own limitations, our own beliefs.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Sep. 2024
Mayer, who grew up in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, is a whirling dervish of off-the-cuff neuroses onstage, a relatable queen on TikTok, and a blunt and brash storyteller on the page.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for neurosis
Dictionary Entries Near neurosis
Cite this Entry
“Neurosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neurosis. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
neurosis
noun
neu·ro·sis
n(y)u̇-ˈrō-səs
plural neuroses
-ˈrō-ˌsēz
: any of various mental and emotional disorders that affect only part of a person's personality, are less serious than a psychosis, and involve unusual or extreme reactions (as abnormal fears, depression, or anxiety) to stress and conflict
Medical Definition
neurosis
noun
neu·ro·sis
n(y)u̇-ˈrō-səs
plural neuroses
-ˌsēz
: a mental and emotional disorder that affects only part of the personality, is accompanied by a less distorted perception of reality than in a psychosis, does not result in disturbance of the use of language, and is accompanied by various physical, physiological, and mental disturbances (as visceral symptoms, anxieties, or phobias)
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