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codependent

codependent

6 7.3
Relying too much on another person in a relationship in an unhealthy way
  • adjective
  • /ˌkoʊdɪˈpɛndənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : codependiente
  • It's difficult for her to make decisions alone because she is very codependent in her relationship with him.
  • codependent relationship
  • label a codependent

So are you the giver or the taker in codependent relationships?

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Examples

  • I think our society is so afraid now of being codependent or enabling someone.

    Blog text (26)
  • - It's a very codependent relationship.

  • Plenty of people break out of codependent family systems.

  • These things can be features of your own codependent patterns.

  • Well, yeah, I think first and foremost, I see a lot of codependent relationships these days.

  • Well, I still have a codependent relationship with show business, which is frustrating.

  • So are you the giver or the taker in codependent relationships?

  • The relationship between Bella and Edward is codependent at best and flat-out abusive at worst.

    Blog text (13)
  • There's something so scary about how often even media meant for adults glorify really unhealthy codependent relationships.

    Blog text (32)
  • The nurse manager needs to realize that the hospital culture may reinforce codependent behaviors in nurse employees (van der Wal, 1996).

    Academic text (2002)

Synonyms

overdependent
vscodependent
1 4.7

Needing help from other people or things too much

emphasizes an unhealthy relational pattern rather than only needing support
overreliant
vscodependent
5.6

Trusting one person or thing too much

describes an unhealthy reliance specifically between people or within relationships

Antonyms

984 2.3

Not controlled by others

13 4.5

Able to act and decide without help from others

How Dependent

codependent
  • Specialized
6 7.3
dependent
182 2.8
reliant
30 4.0
self-reliant
13 4.5
independent
984 2.3

Surface Forms

codependent positive

Morphology

codependent = dependent (semi-transparent) = co + depend + ent

The adjective is formed by straightforward prefixation of 'co-' to 'dependent', yielding a literal sense of 'joint or mutual dependence'.

Etymology

Codependent comes from co- meaning 'together' and dependent meaning 'relying on someone'. So, a codependent relationship is one where two people rely on each other too much in an unhealthy way and cannot grow to be independent.