Definition

A person who has a mental condition that makes them behave in ways that are harmful to others and shows little regard for social rules or the feelings of others.

Example

The detective suspected that the suspect was a sociopath due to his lack of empathy.

Conversation

Did you hear about that guy in the news who was a total sociopath?

Yeah, it's crazy how some people can lack empathy like that.

I can't believe someone would act that way without feeling guilty.

Right? It's really unsettling to think about a true sociopath walking among us.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Sociopath → It is formed from "socio-" (from Latin "socius", meaning companion or ally) and "-path" (from Greek "pathos", meaning feeling or suffering). The term describes a person who has a lack of empathy or regard for social relationships, indicating a disconnection from the feelings of others.

Memory Tip

Think of 'socio-' meaning 'companion' and '-path' relating to 'feeling' — a sociopath is someone who struggles with feelings in social relationships.

Visually Confused Words