Hypochondriac: meaning, definitions and examples
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hypochondriac
[ ˌhaɪ.pəˈkɒn.dri.æk ]
mental health
A hypochondriac is a person who is excessively worried about their health, often believing they have serious illnesses despite a lack of medical evidence. This condition can lead to significant anxiety and may result in frequent medical consultations.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She visited the doctor every week as a hypochondriac.
- His hypochondriac tendencies made him avoid public places.
- As a hypochondriac, she was convinced every ache meant something far worse.
Etymology
The term 'hypochondriac' originates from the Greek word 'hypochondrium', which refers to the area below the ribs. In ancient medical theory, this area was believed to be the seat of melancholy and associated with various ailments. Over time, the term evolved to describe individuals who excessively worry about their health, often without any substantial medical basis for their fears. In the 17th and 18th centuries, hypochondria was more commonly associated with a melancholic temperament, linking emotional distress to physical symptoms. By the 19th century, the term was more widely recognized in a clinical sense, distinguishing those whose anxiety about illness was disproportionate to actual health conditions. This evolved understanding has persisted into modern times, where hypochondriasis is often treated as a somatoform disorder within psychological medicine.
Word Frequency Rank
This word's position of #31,090 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.
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- 31087 pleasingly
- 31088 incapacitate
- 31089 zealot
- 31090 hypochondriac
- 31091 sawfly
- 31092 stunningly
- 31093 childishness
- ...