pathologize

verb
pa·​thol·​o·​gize | \ pə-ˈthä-lə-ˌjīz How to pronounce pathologize (audio) \
pathologized; pathologizing

Definition of pathologize

transitive verb

: to view or characterize as medically or psychologically abnormal natural hormonal shifts have been pathologized— Joyce C. Mills

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Examples of pathologize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The opportunity to pathologize certain behaviors is appealing. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, "Why Is There a ‘Gaming Disorder’ But No ‘Smartphone Disorder?’," 28 June 2018 But the medical community used other terms in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, known as the DSM, to pathologize gender nonconformity, including transsexualism and gender identity disorder. Emanuella Grinberg, CNN, "What is medically necessary treatment for gender-affirming health care?," 31 May 2018 Yet many mental-health experts say that to pathologize this conduct is to fail to deal with the underlying causes. Elizabeth Bernstein, WSJ, "Think You’re Addicted to Sex? Here Are Treatment Options," 18 Dec. 2017 Smith, who famously crafted a new genre out of the one-woman show, seeks to personalize the headlines by making us reflect on our propensity to pathologize. Sloane Crosley, Vanities, "In Portrait: The Women Playwrights Giving Broadway a Moral Compass," 14 May 2017 Smith, who famously crafted a new genre out of the one-woman show, seeks to personalize the headlines by making us reflect on our propensity to pathologize. Sloane Crosley, Vanities, "In Portrait: The Women Playwrights Giving Broadway a Moral Compass," 14 May 2017 Smith, who famously crafted a new genre out of the one-woman show, seeks to personalize the headlines by making us reflect on our propensity to pathologize. Sloane Crosley, Vanities, "In Portrait: The Women Playwrights Giving Broadway a Moral Compass," 14 May 2017 Smith, who famously crafted a new genre out of the one-woman show, seeks to personalize the headlines by making us reflect on our propensity to pathologize. Sloane Crosley, Vanities, "In Portrait: The Women Playwrights Giving Broadway a Moral Compass," 14 May 2017 Smith, who famously crafted a new genre out of the one-woman show, seeks to personalize the headlines by making us reflect on our propensity to pathologize. Sloane Crosley, Vanities, "In Portrait: The Women Playwrights Giving Broadway a Moral Compass," 14 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pathologize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of pathologize

1649, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for pathologize

pathology + -ize

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More Definitions for pathologize

pathologize

transitive verb
pa·​thol·​o·​gize
variants: or chiefly British pathologise \ -​ˌjīz \
pathologized or chiefly British pathologised; pathologizing or chiefly British pathologising

Medical Definition of pathologize

: to view or characterize as medically or psychologically abnormal natural hormonal shifts have been pathologized— Joyce C. Mills pathologizing childhood behavior— Ruth Shalit

Other Words from pathologize

pathologization or chiefly British pathologisation \ pə-​ˌthäl-​ə-​jə-​ˈzā-​shən \ noun