Definition

A person who has a mental condition that causes them to behave in a way that is harmful to others, often showing no feelings of guilt or empathy.

Example

The detective suspected that the suspect was a psychopath due to his lack of remorse for his actions.

Conversation

Have you ever read about that famous psychopath in history?

Yeah, I think I saw a documentary about him; it was really chilling.

It’s fascinating how they can manipulate people so easily.

Absolutely, it makes you wonder what goes on in a psychopath's mind.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Psychopath → It is formed from "psyche" (from Greek "psukhē", meaning soul or mind) and "pathos" (from Greek "pathos", meaning suffering or disease). The word "psychopath" refers to a person suffering from a mental disorder that affects their personality and behavior, particularly in relation to empathy and morality.

Memory Tip

Think of 'psyche' as relating to the mind and 'pathos' as relating to suffering or disease — this helps you remember that a psychopath is someone whose mind is affected in a way that distorts their understanding of empathy and morality.

Visually Confused Words