codependency
noun
co·de·pen·den·cy
| \ ˌkō-di-ˈpen-dən(t)-sē
\
\
Definition of codependency
: a psychological condition or a relationship in which a person is controlled or manipulated by another who is affected with a pathological condition (such as an addiction to alcohol or heroin)
broadly
: dependence on the needs of or control by another
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Examples of codependency in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Therapy at this point should focus on your own coping skills, as well as exploring concepts such as codependency. — Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, "Ask Amy: Overwhelmed parent wants to mend broken family," 5 Aug. 2019 Therapy at this point should focus on your own coping skills, as well as exploring concepts such as codependency. — Amy Dickinson, chicagotribune.com, "Ask Amy: Overwhelmed parent wants to mend broken family," 5 Aug. 2019 Therapy at this point should focus on your own coping skills, as well as exploring concepts such as codependency. — Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, "Ask Amy: We’re trying to sell our house. Can we tell our neighbors to clean up?," 5 Aug. 2019 Therapy at this point should focus on your own coping skills, as well as exploring concepts such as codependency. — Amy Dickinson, The Denver Post, "Ask Amy: Overwhelmed parent wants to mend broken family," 5 Aug. 2019 Therapy at this point should focus on your own coping skills, as well as exploring concepts such as codependency. — Ask Amy, oregonlive.com, "Ask Amy: Family exhausted trying to deal with adult daughters’ accusations and substance abuse," 5 Aug. 2019 If only the Luddites could see our codependency now. — Matt Simon, WIRED, "Inside the Amazon Warehouse Where Humans and Machines Become One," 5 June 2019 So is the crazy codependency and memory-lane madness that seemed to fuel their one-of-a-kind dynamic. — Gary Goldstein, latimes.com, "'That Summer' goes behind the scenes at Grey Gardens, to mixed effect," 24 May 2018 But be aware, Scorpio babe: In astrology, the seventh house directly reflects the first house of self, a reminder of the influence of projection and codependency on interpersonal dynamics. — Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, "What May's Scorpio Horoscope Means for You," 26 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'codependency.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for codependency
codependency
noun
co·de·pen·den·cy
| \ ˌkō-di-ˈpen-dən-sē
\
\
variants:
or co-dependency
also codependence
or co-dependence \ -dən(t)s
\
\
plural codependencies
Medical Definition of codependency
: a psychological condition or a relationship in which a person manifesting low self-esteem and a strong desire for approval has an unhealthy attachment to another person and places the needs of that person before his or her own
Note: In codependency, a person tries to satisfy the needs of another who is often controlling or manipulative and who may have an addictive or emotionally unstable personality.
broadly : dependence on the needs of or control by another