pathologize

verb

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

transitive verb

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

Examples of pathologize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web These three words served both to definitively pathologize her and to place her mental health on an ascending scale, one that coincidentally meant that mine and our other brother’s childhood—being cared for by this troubled if charismatic woman—was also, in his opinion, necessarily . . . Will Self, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024 That meant pathologizing drug use, Regina Davis Moss, a public health scholar and president of In Our Own Voice, a reproductive justice organization, tells Rolling Stone. Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2024 The two were easy scapegoats in a media culture and news environment that often pathologized Black masculinity as deviant and dangerous. Brandon Harris, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2024 Soufan, however, passes over almost all discussion of religion and tends to pathologize religious sentiment in glib tones. Graeme Wood, Foreign Affairs, 15 Aug. 2017 See all Example Sentences for pathologize 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pathologize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

pathology + -ize

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pathologize was in 1649

Dictionary Entries Near pathologize

Cite this Entry

“Pathologize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pathologize. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

pathologize

transitive verb
pa·​thol·​o·​gize
variants or chiefly British pathologise
-ˌjīz
pathologized or chiefly British pathologised; pathologizing or chiefly British pathologising
: to view or characterize as medically or psychologically abnormal
natural hormonal shifts have been pathologizedJoyce C. Mills
pathologizing childhood behaviorRuth Shalit
pathologization noun
or chiefly British pathologisation
pə-ˌthäl-ə-jə-ˈzā-shən
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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