psychopath
psychopath Lexical Profile
psychopath Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person affected by a chronic personality disorder characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, bold or egotistical traits, and manipulative tendencies.
"The forensic psychologist evaluated the defendant to determine whether his complete lack of remorse indicated the traits of a psychopath."
An unstable, callous, or aggressively erratic person (used informally or hyperbolically).
"Only a complete psychopath would schedule a mandatory team meeting at six o'clock on a Friday evening."
Word Nuance & Usage
In popular usage, 'psychopath' and 'sociopath' are often used interchangeably, though some criminologists and psychologists distinguish psychopaths as having more innate, calculated callousness and superficial charm compared to the more erratic, environmentally shaped behavior of sociopaths. Neither term is an official clinical diagnosis in the DSM-5, which instead classifies these traits under antisocial personality disorder.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 19th century as a back-formation from 'psychopathic' or borrowed from German 'Psychopath', combining Ancient Greek 'psyche' (mind, soul) and 'pathos' (suffering, disease).