neurotic
word
Definition
Describes someone who worries a lot, gets nervous easily, or has a lot of anxiety. In psychology, it refers to a person showing strange or excessive emotional reactions, but it's more common as an informal description for overly anxious people.
Usage & Nuances
Mostly informal and can sound negative. Common collocations: 'neurotic behavior', 'seems neurotic'. Avoid using it for serious mental illnesses—it’s about being overly anxious or obsessive, not having psychosis. Sometimes used humorously.
Example Sentences
Sometimes my mind goes super neurotic over tiny details.
natural
His neurotic behavior makes everyone nervous in the office.
natural
He gets neurotic about his health.
basic
My boss is a bit neurotic about being on time.
basic
She became neurotic after too much stress at work.
basic
Don't be so neurotic—everything will work out fine.
natural