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Neurotically: meaning, definitions and examples

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neurotically

 

[ nʊəˈrɒtɪkli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

behavioral pattern

Neurotically describes an action or behavior characterized by excessive anxiety or obsessive concern, often leading to irrational actions. It reflects a state of mind where an individual is overly preoccupied with issues that may not warrant such intense focus.

Synonyms

anxiously, compulsively, obsessively

Examples of usage

  • She neurotically checked her emails every few minutes.
  • He neurotically organized his books by color and size.
  • They neurotically planned every detail of their vacation.

Translations

Translations of the word "neurotically" in other languages:

🇵🇹 neuroticamente

🇮🇳 न्यूरोटिकली

🇩🇪 neurotisch

🇮🇩 neurotik

🇺🇦 нейротично

🇵🇱 neurotycznie

🇯🇵 神経質に

🇫🇷 neurotiquement

🇪🇸 neuróticamente

🇹🇷 nevrotik olarak

🇰🇷 신경질적으로

🇸🇦 عصبيًا

🇨🇿 neurotický

🇸🇰 neurotický

🇨🇳 神经质地

🇸🇮 nevrotično

🇮🇸 taugaveik

🇰🇿 нейротикалық

🇬🇪 ნეიროტიკულად

🇦🇿 neyrotik şəkildə

🇲🇽 neuróticamente

Word origin

The term 'neurotic' originates from the Greek word 'neuron', which means 'nerve', combined with the suffix '-ic', denoting a characteristic or relation. The concept began to appear in medical literature in the late 19th century, used to describe a range of mental disorders characterized by anxiety and distress without a clear physical cause. In modern parlance, the adverb 'neurotically' emerged to describe actions stemming from such a mental state. Over time, the common usage has evolved, reflecting everyday behaviors marked by excessive worry or obsessive rituals. It indicates a shift from clinical terminology to a more colloquial expression that captures the essence of anxious behavior.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,931, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.