dysmorphic

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)fɪk

Adjective

dysmorphic (not comparable)

1. Of, relative to, producing, or having dysmorphism.
   • 2013, Janet M Rennie, Giles S Kendall, “Genetic disease”, in A Manual of Neonatal Intensive Care, 5th edition, CRC Press, published 2017, →ISBN, part 2 (Pregnancy and early neonatal life):

     The first clue to possible genetic disease is usually the appearance of the infant, who does not ‘look right’ – in other words, he is dysmorphic.

   • 2016, Alan R. Fleischman, “Ethical Issues in Medical and Surgical Enhancement”, in Pediatric Ethics: Protecting the Interests of Children, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 177:

     Much of the suffering experienced by disabled or dysmorphic people is socially determined and value laden.

   • 2022, Jason B. Dorwart, “Eliminating Disability: American Horror Story’s Subtle Preference for Cripping Up”, in The Incorporeal Corpse: Performing Disability in the Liminal Stage, Lexington Books, →ISBN, page 90:

     Unfortunately, while disabled people can often avoid “taking it personally,” it may be more difficult for nondisabled audiences to dissociate dramatic portrayals inside film and theatre from the real experience of dysmorphic features off the stage and screen and their personal experiences with dysmorphic people.

2. Usually body dysmorphic: Having or relating to dysmorphia, also known as body dysmorphic disorder.
   • 2019, Bryan Woodward, Jayant Mehta, editors, Female Infertility: Core Principles and Clinical Management, JP Medical, →ISBN, page 31:

     Body weight and weight change can highlight psychological and control issues, lack of confidence and body dysmorphic tendencies, all of which accompany the potential stress related to infertility.

   • 2022, Rosemary Jones, The Deadly Grimoire: An Arkham Horror Novel, Aconyte Books, →ISBN, page 204:

     “The patient spoke once or twice about a nightmare. Perhaps there was some mention of mirrors, and while some counsel removing mirrors to avoid encouraging dysmorphic tendencies, we find that such a practice might create greater harm,” said Hughes, now very much the polite and civilized man of medicine responding in ten-dollar words to a worried relative.

   • 2023, Hannah Pittard, chapter 20, in We Are Too Many: A Memoir [Kind of], Henry Holt and Company, →ISBN:

     My therapist asked me if I had any ideas of what might have changed for me between ninth grade and eleventh grade; between being a blissfully unaware pubescent girl and becoming a body dysmorphic teenager suffering from severe anemia.

Derived terms

• body dysmorphic disorder