Psycho: meaning, definitions and examples

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psycho

 

[ หˆsaษชkoสŠ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

mental health

The term 'psycho' is often used informally to describe someone who exhibits extreme or unstable behavior, often associated with mental health issues. It can refer to individuals who display traits of psychopathy or severe psychological disorders. While it may sometimes be used humorously or casually, it carries a negative connotation and can be stigmatizing. This term is frequently applied in popular culture to characterize antagonistic or villainous figures in films and literature.

Synonyms

crazy person, lunatic, madman, maniac, psychopath

Examples of usage

  • The movie portrayed the psycho as a complex character.
  • He warned her to stay away from that psycho neighbor.
  • Often, the psycho has a tragic backstory.
  • The documentary explored the mind of a psycho killer.

Translations

Translations of the word "psycho" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น psicopata

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฎเคจเฅ‹เคตเฅˆเคœเฅเคžเคพเคจเคฟเค•

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Psychopath

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ psikopat

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟัะธั…ะพะฟะฐั‚

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ psychopata

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‚ตใ‚คใ‚ณใƒ‘ใ‚น

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท psychopathe

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ psicรณpata

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท psikopat

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์‚ฌ์ด์ฝ”ํŒจ์Šค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุฌู†ูˆู†

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ psychopat

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ psychopat

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅฟƒ็†ๅ˜ๆ€

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ psihopat

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ sรกlfrรฆรฐingur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฟัะธั…ะพะฟะฐั‚

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒคแƒกแƒ˜แƒฅแƒแƒžแƒแƒ—แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ psixopat

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ psicรณpata

Etymology

The word 'psycho' originates from the prefix 'psych-', which is derived from the Greek word 'psyche', meaning 'soul' or 'mind'. The term began to appear in English in the early 20th century, where it was often used in psychological contexts to discuss mental processes or disorders. By the 1960s, 'psycho' took on a more informal connotation, often associated with a caricature of a disturbed individual, fueled by media portrayals in film and television. The term became especially popular following the release of Alfred Hitchcock's film 'Psycho' in 1960, which cemented the association of the word with violent and unhinged behavior. Over the decades, 'psycho' has been absorbed into everyday language, primarily as a slang term to describe someone perceived as mentally unstable.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,936, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.