psychological

adjective

psy·​cho·​log·​i·​cal ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

variants or less commonly psychologic

ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-jik 

1

a

: of or relating to psychology

psychological research

b

: of, relating to, or occurring in the mind : mental

psychological distress

psychological disorders

2

: directed toward, influencing, or acting on the mind especially in relation to an individual's willpower or behavioral motivation

psychological warfare

psychological strategies

psychologically

ˌsī-kə-ˈlä-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Since losing its Winston Cup [NASCAR] races, the town of North Wilkesboro has suffered economically and psychologically.

—Derek H. Alderman et al.

To gas light is to psychologically manipulate a person to the point where they question their own sanity …

—Lauren Duca

Synonyms of psychological

• mental
• internal
• inner
• interior

Examples of psychological in a Sentence

a psychological rather than a physical condition

suffered from psychological disorders all of his life

Recent Examples on the Web

In modern usage mindfulness has been incorporated into psychological and alternative health practices. —Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026

Meurice's protocol, called Bathysmed, is meant to give people the tools to help reduce anxiety or depression, but is not a cure-all to replace psychological treatment. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026

Video game streamers are getting scarier than ever, thanks to a new gaming psychological thriller that adds a new deadly troll to the mix. —William Earl, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026

But the intention is to create a new generation of horror films that draw from the unsettling power, psychological intensity, and cinematic ambition that made J-horror a defining force in global genre filmmaking. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing psychological

• psychological moment
• psychological warfare

Rhymes for psychological

• analogical
• astrological
• biological
• christological
• chronological
• cosmological
• cytological
• dialogical
• ecological
• ethnological
• ethological
• geological

Kids Definition

psychological

adjective

psy·​cho·​log·​i·​cal ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

variants also psychologic

-ˈläj-ik 

1

a

: of or relating to psychology

psychological research

b

: of, relating to, or occurring in the mind : mental

psychological distress

psychological disorders

2

: meant to influence the will or mind

psychological warfare

psychologically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

psychological

adjective

psy·​cho·​log·​i·​cal ˌsī-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

variants also psychologic

-ik 

1

a

: relating to, characteristic of, directed toward, influencing, arising in, or acting through the mind especially in its affective or cognitive functions

psychological phenomena

the psychological aspects of a problem

b

: directed toward, influencing, or acting on the mind especially in relation to an individual's willpower or behavioral motivation

psychological warfare

2

: relating to, concerned with, deriving from, or used in psychology

psychological research

psychological tests

a psychological clinic

psychologically

-ē

adverb