Psychopath

/ˈsaɪkoʊˌpæθ/ noun

noun ·Moderate ·College level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: A person with a personality disorder indicated by a pattern of lying, cunning, manipulating, glibness, exploiting, heedlessness, arrogance, delusions of grandeur, carelessness, low self-control, disregard for morality, lack of acceptance of responsibility, callousness, and lack of empathy and remorse. Such a person may be especially prone to violent and criminal offenses.
  • Grammar: psychopath is listed as noun.
  • Nearest alternatives: sociopath, alcoholic, alternating personality, antisocial personality.
  • Useful contrasts: compassionate person, ethical person, well adjusted person.
  • Usage evidence: The fact that you're unable to feel compassion indicates clearly that you're a psychopath.

How to use "psychopath"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "psychopath" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "psychopath" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "psychopath" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "psychopath" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "psychopath" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "sociopath" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "psychopath", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A person with a personality disorder indicated by a pattern of lying, cunning, manipulating, glibness, exploiting, heedlessness, arrogance, delusions of grandeur, carelessness, low self-control, disregard for morality, lack of acceptance of responsibility, callousness, and lack of empathy and remorse. Such a person may be especially prone to violent and criminal offenses.
  2. 2
    someone with a sociopathic personality; a person with an antisocial personality disorder (‘psychopath’ was once widely used but has now been superseded by ‘sociopath’) wordnet
  3. 3
    A person with no moral conscience. figuratively

    "Now the real difference between now and then was that Trump wasn't looking to do much of anything positive for the American people as a whole. He mainly enriched himself and his family and gave rich people another tax cut. I think as far as Republicans being psychopaths I would say yes but it's probably a bit more complicated. The party is struggling to message against the policies the Biden administration is working to pass because they are overall popular with the voters. The Republicans would normally talk about fiscal responsibility and harp on the national debt but I think their big business "donors" don't want to see the economy stall again so we aren't seeing their normal talking points. So instead they are stoking their base with culture war crap about freedom and Biden becoming an authoritarian."

  4. 4
    A person who perpetrates especially gruesome or bizarre violent acts. figuratively
  5. 5
    A person diagnosed with antisocial or dissocial personality disorder.
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    A person diagnosed with any mental disorder. obsolete

Synonyms

All synonyms
sociopathalcoholicalternating personalityantisocial personalityantisocial personalitycallous individual

Antonyms

compassionate personethical personwell adjusted person

Example

"The fact that you're unable to feel compassion indicates clearly that you're a psychopath."

Common questions

What does "psychopath" mean?

A person with a personality disorder indicated by a pattern of lying, cunning, manipulating, glibness, exploiting, heedlessness, arrogance, delusions of grandeur, carelessness, low self-control, disregard for morality, lack of acceptance of responsibility, callousness, and lack of empathy and remorse. Such a person may be especially prone to violent and criminal offenses.

What is a synonym for "psychopath"?

Common synonyms include: sociopath, alcoholic, alternating personality, antisocial personality, antisocial personality, callous individual.

How do you use "psychopath" in a sentence?

The fact that you're unable to feel compassion indicates clearly that you're a psychopath.

How do you pronounce "psychopath"?

Pronounced /ˈsaɪkoʊˌpæθ/.

Etymology

From German psychopathisch, from Ancient Greek ψυχή (psukhḗ, “soul”) + πάθος (páthos, “suffering”).

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