You describe a person or their behaviour as pathological when they behave in an extreme and unacceptable way, and have very powerful feelings which they cannot control.
He experiences chronic, almost pathological jealousy.
He's a pathological liar.
...a pathological fear of snakes.
2. adjective
Pathological means relating to pathology or illness.
[medicine]
...pathological conditions in animals.
More Synonyms of pathological
pathological in British English
(ˌpæθəˈlɒdʒɪkəl) or less commonly pathologic
adjective
1.
of or relating to pathology
2.
relating to, involving, or caused by disease
3. informal
compulsively motivated
a pathological liar
Derived forms
pathologically (ˌpathoˈlogically)
adverb
pathological in American English
(ˌpæθəˈlɑdʒɪkəl)
adjective
1.
of pathology; of or concerned with diseases
2.
due to or involving disease
3.
governed by a compulsion; compulsive
a pathological liar
Also ˌpathoˈlogic
Derived forms
pathologically (ˌpathoˈlogically)
adverb
Examples of 'pathological' in a sentence
pathological
We now realise he is a pathological liar and are disgusted by him.
The Sun (2010)
He seems to have been a pathological liar.
Christianity Today (2000)
Defence lawyers insisted he was a pathological liar.
The Sun (2009)
You target outcasts because they fulfil your pathological need for unconditional affection.
The Sun (2016)
As we talk it seems he has a pathological fear of being hurt.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Perhaps the deeper problem is his almost pathological unwillingness to accept the blame.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Now it has an almost pathological edge.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Or why they harbour such a pathological hatred of talking.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Is it possible to be both a pathological liar and a paragon of sincerity at the same time?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Her secluded lifestyle and an almost pathological anxiety about meeting strangers meant that her friendships evolved through letters rather than in person.
Pamela Norris Words Of Love: Passionate Women from Heloise to Sylvia Plath (2006)
My son is a pathological liar, he steals and feels no remorse.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I had an almost pathological need to take on too much.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I have a pathological fear of being on my own.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He is almost reclusive in his pathological desire to avoid publicity, but he has hosted parties attended by a swath of A-list stars.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
If all this seems a little negative, let me assure you I now feel an almost pathological fondness for the place.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I'm not doing this out of kindness, but from an almost pathological curiosity to see how people live in these grand spaces.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
pathological
British English: pathological ADJECTIVE
You describe a person or their behaviour as pathological when they behave in an extreme and unacceptable way, and have very powerful feelings which they cannot control.
He experiences chronic, almost pathological jealousy.
American English: pathological
Brazilian Portuguese: patológico
Chinese: 病态的
European Spanish: patológico
French: pathologique
German: krankhaft
Italian: patologico
Japanese: >病的な人柄や言動が
Korean: 병적인
European Portuguese: patológico
Latin American Spanish: patológico
(adjective)
Definition
compulsively motivated
his pathological jealousy
Synonyms
obsessive
chronic
He has always been a chronic smoker.
persistent
compulsive
He is a compulsive liar.
unreasonable
The strikers were being unreasonable in their demands.
irrational
an irrational fear of science
habitual
Three out of four of them would become habitual criminals.
confirmed
I'm a confirmed bachelor.
illogical
his completely illogical arguments
inveterate
an inveterate liar
Additional synonyms
in the sense of chronic
Definition
(of a bad habit or bad behaviour) having continued for a long time
He has always been a chronic smoker.
Synonyms
habitual,
confirmed,
ingrained,
incessant,
inveterate,
incorrigible
in the sense of compulsive
Definition
resulting from or acting from a compulsion
He is a compulsive liar.
Synonyms
obsessive,
confirmed,
chronic,
persistent,
addictive,
uncontrollable,
incurable,
inveterate,
incorrigible
in the sense of confirmed
Definition
long-established in a habit or condition
I'm a confirmed bachelor.
Synonyms
long-established,
seasoned,
rooted,
chronic,
hardened,
habitual,
ingrained,
inveterate,
inured,
dyed-in-the-wool
Nearby words of
pathological
path
pathetic
pathfinder
pathological
pathos
patience
patient
Synonyms of 'pathological'
pathological
Explore 'pathological' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of habitual
Definition
by habit
Three out of four of them would become habitual criminals.
Synonyms
persistent,
established,
confirmed,
constant,
frequent,
chronic,
hardened,
recurrent,
ingrained,
inveterate
in the sense of illogical
Definition
not following logical principles
his completely illogical arguments
Synonyms
irrational,
absurd,
unreasonable,
meaningless,
incorrect,
faulty,
inconsistent,
invalid,
senseless,
spurious,
inconclusive,
unsound,
unscientific,
specious,
fallacious,
untenable,
sophistical
in the sense of inveterate
Definition
confirmed in a habit or practice
an inveterate liar
Synonyms
chronic,
confirmed,
incurable,
hardened,
established,
long-standing,
hard-core,
habitual,
obstinate,
incorrigible,
dyed-in-the-wool,
ineradicable,
deep-dyed
in the sense of irrational
Definition
not based on logical reasoning
an irrational fear of science
Synonyms
illogical,
crazy (informal),
silly,
absurd,
foolish,
unreasonable,
unwise,
preposterous,
idiotic,
nonsensical,
unsound,
unthinking,
injudicious,
unreasoning
in the sense of unreasonable
Definition
refusing to listen to reason
The strikers were being unreasonable in their demands.