Definition

A person who experiences a mental condition characterized by anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and compulsive behavior.

Example

The psychasthenic often struggles with feelings of doubt and insecurity.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of someone being a psychasthenic?

I think I've read about it, but I'm not too sure what it means.

It refers to someone who struggles with anxiety and obsessive thoughts.

That sounds really tough; I can’t imagine dealing with that daily.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Psychasthenic → It is formed from "psyche" (from Greek "psukhē", meaning soul or mind) and "asthenia" (from Greek "astheneia", meaning weakness). The word describes a condition characterized by mental weakness or lack of energy.

Memory Tip

Think of 'psyche' as relating to the mind and 'asthenia' as meaning weakness — together, they help you remember that psychasthenic refers to a state of mental weakness.

Visually Confused Words