# neurotic

/nʊˈɹɑtɪk/ (US) · /njuːɹˈɒtɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/neurotic
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. anxious or worried

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

worrying too much about small details or things that might go wrong.

For teachers: characterised by excessive anxiety, obsessive thoughts, or emotional instability. Often used informally to describe a personality type rather than a clinical diagnosis.

- He is so neurotic about his health that he sees a doctor for every tiny cough.
- Her neurotic tendencies became more pronounced under pressure, leading her to double-check every minor detail of the contract multiple times.

### 2. relating to neurosis

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

relating to a mental health condition that causes stress but does not involve losing touch with reality.

For teachers: pertaining to or suffering from neurosis. In modern clinical contexts, this term is less common than specific diagnostic labels but remains relevant in psychoanalytic theory.

- The patient showed neurotic symptoms that were linked to childhood stress.
- The study examined the correlation between neurotic disorders and long-term exposure to high-stress work environments.

### 3. an anxious person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a person who is often worried, nervous, or obsessed with small details.

For teachers: a person affected with a neurosis or exhibiting obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Use as a noun can be perceived as reductive or insensitive in modern clinical settings.

- I'm such a neurotic when it comes to keeping my kitchen clean.
- The protagonist is portrayed as a classic New York neurotic, constantly overanalysing his relationships and career choices.

Teaching tip: When used as a noun, this word can sound quite judgmental or harsh; it is often used self-deprecatingly in modern conversation.

## Examples

- He is very neurotic about keeping his desk perfectly clean.
- The character in the film is a neurotic writer who constantly worries about his health and career.
- Her neurotic tendencies became more pronounced under the pressure of the deadline, leading her to check the same figures dozens of times without finding any errors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.