psychological
adjective
psy·cho·log·i·cal
ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 
variants
or less commonly psychologic
1
a
: of or relating to psychology
psychological research
b
: of, relating to, or occurring in the mind : mental
psychological distress
psychological disorders
2
: directed toward, influencing, or acting on the mind especially in relation to an individual's willpower or behavioral motivation
psychological warfare
psychological strategies
psychologically
adverb
Since losing its Winston Cup [NASCAR] races, the town of North Wilkesboro has suffered economically and psychologically.
—
Derek H. Alderman et al.
Derek H. Alderman et al.
To gas light is to psychologically manipulate a person to the point where they question their own sanity …
—Lauren Duca
Lauren Duca
Synonyms
Examples of psychological in a Sentence
a psychological rather than a physical condition
suffered from psychological disorders all of his life
Recent Examples on the Web
The ‘Con Queen’s marks exhaust their personal finances in pursuit of a big break, while being exploited in a perverse psychological game spanning the globe.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2024
Their journey is fraught with obstacles, from a stressful customs detention to the psychological toll of David’s struggles as a provider.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024
The reason this accumulates quickly is down to the type of stress threat faced, which is less likely to be a physical one (such as running away from a tiger), and more likely to be a psychological one (like an overflowing inbox).
—Georgia Day, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024
Share your thoughts | More about Emily Cochrane The staff member must also complete 40 hours of school policing training, undergo a background check, submit fingerprints to state and federal authorities, and submit a psychological certification from a licensed health provider.
—Rick Rojas, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024
The science of rest While the benefits of physical rest are well understood, there’s less research on how to optimize psychological rest.
—Donavyn Coffey, TIME, 22 Apr. 2024
During the mandatory, three-month sentence, the suspect would have to complete a psychological evaluation and an anger management program as a condition of their probation.
—Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
That cybercriminals have discovered the psychological benefits of just-below pricing is yet another sign of the growing popularity and sophistication of these markets.
—Dell Cameron Andrew Couts, WIRED, 20 Apr. 2024
In their writing and on their podcast, Stoner presents disturbing personal testimony and discusses issues that child stars face, such as the prevalence of eating disorders, fractured family dynamics, and the psychological toll of fame.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024
Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2024
Their journey is fraught with obstacles, from a stressful customs detention to the psychological toll of David’s struggles as a provider.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024
The reason this accumulates quickly is down to the type of stress threat faced, which is less likely to be a physical one (such as running away from a tiger), and more likely to be a psychological one (like an overflowing inbox).
—Georgia Day, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024
Share your thoughts | More about Emily Cochrane The staff member must also complete 40 hours of school policing training, undergo a background check, submit fingerprints to state and federal authorities, and submit a psychological certification from a licensed health provider.
—Rick Rojas, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024
The science of rest While the benefits of physical rest are well understood, there’s less research on how to optimize psychological rest.
—Donavyn Coffey, TIME, 22 Apr. 2024
During the mandatory, three-month sentence, the suspect would have to complete a psychological evaluation and an anger management program as a condition of their probation.
—Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
That cybercriminals have discovered the psychological benefits of just-below pricing is yet another sign of the growing popularity and sophistication of these markets.
—Dell Cameron Andrew Couts, WIRED, 20 Apr. 2024
In their writing and on their podcast, Stoner presents disturbing personal testimony and discusses issues that child stars face, such as the prevalence of eating disorders, fractured family dynamics, and the psychological toll of fame.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'psychological.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near psychological
Cite this Entry
“Psychological.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychological. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
psychological
adjective
psy·cho·log·i·cal
ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl
variants
also psychologic
1
a
: of or relating to psychology
b
2
: meant to influence the will or mind
Medical Definition
psychological
adjective
psy·cho·log·i·cal
ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl
variants
also psychologic
1
a
: relating to, characteristic of, directed toward, influencing, arising in, or acting through the mind especially in its affective or cognitive functions
psychological phenomena
the psychological aspects of a problem
b
: directed toward, influencing, or acting on the mind especially in relation to an individual's willpower or behavioral motivation
psychological warfare
2
: relating to, concerned with, deriving from, or used in psychology
psychological research
psychological tests
a psychological clinic
psychologically
adverb
-ē
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