"Educational autism" in the California school system apparently has looser criteria than the DSM-IV's series of autistic disorders.
Source: tatoeba (697687)
Autistic
/ɔːˈtɪs.tɪk/
Synonyms for "autistic" (174 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (35)
acquisitiveaffectlessairyall in the mindambitious for selfanesthetizedapparentapparitionalarcticbarmecidalbarmecidebashfulbluntcareeristcatatonicchillchillychimericchimericalclose
Show 5 more words
Adjective(10 words)
autism-basedautism-linkedautism-relatedautism-specificautistic communityautistic individualautistic individualsautistic peopleautistic personautistic population
Strong matches (52)
Adjective(1 words)
individual with autism
Related words (87)
narcissisticnonemotionalnongregariousobjectiveobtuseostensibleotherworldlyout of touchpassionlesspersonalisticphantasmagoricphantasmalphantompoeticpossessiveprivatisticquixoticremoteromancingromantic
Show 64 more words
romanticizedseemingself-absorbedself-admiringself-advancingself-besotself-centeredself-considerativeself-containedself-deceptiveself-deludingself-devotedself-esteemingself-indulgentself-interestedself-jealousself-occupiedself-pleasingself-seekingself-servingself-sufficientselfishsnugsocially incompatiblesoullessspeciousspectralspiritlessstarry eyedstarry-eyedstorybooksullensupposititioustranscendentaltransmundaneunactualunaffectionateunclubbableuncommunicativeuncompanionableuncongenialunemotionalunfeelingunfoundedunfriendlyungenialunimpassionedunimpressionableunlovingunpassionateunpracticalunrealunrealisticunrespondingunresponsiveunsociableunsocialunsubstantialunsusceptibleunsympatheticuntouchablevisionarywish fulfillingwish-fulfilling
Adjective(2 words)
neurodevelopmentalperson with autism
Prep_phrase(1 words)
on the spectrum
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: acquisitive, affectless, airy, all in the mind, ambitious for self.
- Sentence evidence is available for autistic, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "autistic".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "autistic"
Keep "autistic" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "autistic" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "autistic", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "autistic" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
9 entriesclinical descriptordescriptive adjectivediagnostic attributegrouphumanmedical termpersonphenotypic descriptorpopulation
More specific
11 entriesAsperger syndromeautistic adultautistic adultsautistic childautistic childrenautistic savantclassic autismhigh-functioning autismrestricted interestssensory sensitivitiessocial communication difficulties
Collocations
11 entriesasperger syndromeautism-relatedautistic adultautistic childautistic communityautistic individualautistic personautistic spectrumautistic traitshigh functioning autismon the spectrum
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
15 total sentences available.
It is gross to kick autistic children.
Source: tatoeba (778245)
Is this kid autistic or does he have ADHD? His behavior is hard to characterize either way.
Source: tatoeba (790909)
The upcoming fifth edition of the DSM proposes a new spectrum-based classification of autistic disorders.
Source: tatoeba (796189)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "autistic"?
Closest matches include acquisitive, affectless, airy, all in the mind, ambitious for self.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "autistic"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.