What does "superego" mean?
The part of the mind that acts as a self-critical conscience, reflecting social standards that have been learnt.
Superego
/ˈsupɚˌiɡoʊ/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The part of the mind that acts as a self-critical conscience, reflecting social standards that have been learnt.
- Grammar: superego is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: alter, alter ego, alterum, anima.
- Useful contrasts: ego, id, ids.
- Usage evidence: In psychoanalysis, this voice is called the superego, which Freud conceived as the infantile internalizing of parental authority.
How to use "superego"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "superego" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- 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 "superego" 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 "superego" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "superego" 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 "superego" 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 "alter" 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 "superego", 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 The part of the mind that acts as a self-critical conscience, reflecting social standards that have been learnt.
"Still, it would be an error to believe that psychoanalytic theory makes no contribution to describing and assessing different types of ethical conduct. The crucial notion in this connection is the relative rigidity or flexibility of the superego. The childish, immature, or neurotic superego is rigid; it is characterized by slavish adherence to rules which, moreover, may not be clearly understood. The mature or normal superego, on the other hand, is flexible; it can evaluate the situation at hand and modify the rules accordingly. Thus, in an early, classic paper, Strachey suggested that the basic aim of psychoanalytic treatment is to make such “mutative interpretations” as would help to render the patient’s “rigid superego” more “flexible”.⁸ Like the psychoanalytic theory of the superego, on which it is based, this view suffers from the limitation of being silent on what sort of rigidity is considered bad or undesirable and what sort of flexibility is considered good or desirable."
- 2 (psychoanalysis) that part of the unconscious mind that acts as a conscience wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"In psychoanalysis, this voice is called the superego, which Freud conceived as the infantile internalizing of parental authority."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "superego"?
Common synonyms include: alter, alter ego, alterum, anima, better self, censor.
How do you use "superego" in a sentence?
In psychoanalysis, this voice is called the superego, which Freud conceived as the infantile internalizing of parental authority.
How do you pronounce "superego"?
Pronounced /ˈsupɚˌiɡoʊ/.
Etymology
From super + ego, from earlier form super-ego, calqued after German Über-Ich, from über- (“super-”) + Ich (“ego”), from the pronoun ich (“I”).