ENGLISH
REFERENCE

psycho

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈsaɪkoʊ// UK //sˈaɪkəʊ// psy·cho Informal Slang Vulgar

n. someone who behaves in a very strange, scary, or violent way. It is a very rude word, so be careful when you use it.

n. a person who is perceived as mentally unstable, aggressive, or dangerously unpredictable. Highly informal and often considered offensive or stigmatising in clinical contexts.


SIMPLE

He started acting like a total psycho during the argument.

CONTEXTUAL

The neighbors thought he was a psycho because he would scream at his lawn in the middle of the night.

COMPLEX

While the film portrays the antagonist as a typical Hollywood psycho, modern critics argue the characterization relies on outdated and harmful tropes regarding mental health.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

Clipping of psychotic or psychopath + -o (“person with characteristic”). Compare sicko.

Etymology 2

Clipping of psychology.

Usage

Informal and derogatory; typically used as a predicative noun or a modifier in casual speech.

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