anorexic
anorexic Lexical Profile
anorexic Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to, characterized by, or suffering from anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder marked by severe food restriction and an intense fear of gaining weight.
"The clinic provides specialized nutritional and psychological support for anorexic patients."
Extremely or abnormally thin; emaciated in appearance, or metaphorically lacking in substance or vitality.
"Critics argued that the fashion industry had promoted an unhealthy, anorexic body ideal for decades."
Experiencing or causing a medical loss of appetite.
"The veterinarian noted that the cat had become lethargic and anorexic following the infection."
• noun
A person who suffers from anorexia nervosa.
"The support group helps recovering anorexics rebuild a healthy relationship with food."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'anorexic' and 'anorectic' share the same root, 'anorexic' is the standard term for the psychological eating disorder (anorexia nervosa), whereas 'anorectic' is preferred in medical contexts for appetite-suppressing drugs or general loss of appetite.
• Rhymes for anorexic
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the late 19th century from 'anorexia' plus the adjectival suffix '-ic', ultimately deriving from Ancient Greek 'anorexia' (want of appetite), from 'an-' (without) and 'orexis' (appetite or longing).