adj
schizophrenic
skiht-suh-FREH-nihk
adj
1
Relating to, or affected by, schizophrenia.
"The clinic specializes in treating schizophrenic patients."
2
Loosely, marked by sharply conflicting or contradictory elements.
"The film has a schizophrenic tone, swinging wildly between comedy and horror."
noun
1
A person diagnosed with schizophrenia.
"Many people prefer the phrase "a person with schizophrenia" over calling someone "a schizophrenic"."
How to Use Schizophrenic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to schizophrenia, or (informally) describing something that seems to pull in wildly different directions at once.
When to use it
Using this word to describe indecisive or inconsistent behavior (rather than the medical condition) can come across as insensitive; many writers now avoid that loose usage.
Word Forms
more schizophrenic comparative, schizophrenics plural, most schizophrenic superlative
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The clinic specializes in treating _____ patients.