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mentally ill

mentally ill

77 3.4
Having a serious problem with thinking, feeling, or behaving because of a brain condition
  • adjective
  • /ˈmɛn.təl.i ɪl/
  • Vulgar
translation icon : loco
  • Many mentally ill patients require ongoing therapy to manage their conditions effectively.
  • severely mentally ill
  • seriously mentally ill
  • chronically mentally ill

These are really mentally ill, disturbed people.

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Examples

  • The subject of housing for the mentally ill is naturally of intense interest to me.

    Blog text (1)
  • You know, the majority of people, it seemed to me, who are in the street are mentally ill, not all, but many.

  • We're talking about mentally ill people.

  • I think you need to come to terms with the fact that you may be mentally ill.

  • Many of the people in this room have been mentally ill, strictly speaking, at some point in their lives.

  • Hostile and critical attitudes toward the mentally ill can change only through increased understanding and knowledge.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Providing compassionate care for mentally ill people remains an open challenge worldwide.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Other people said mentally ill people are not more likely than non mentally ill people to commit crimes or to use a gun in this way.

  • The mental health organization provides support for mentally ill individuals to help them reintegrate into society.

  • The documentary highlighted the struggles faced by mentally ill people in accessing adequate healthcare.

Synonyms

crazy
vsmentally ill
  • Offensive
4.1

Mentally ill and unable to think or behave in a normal way

is the clinical phrase for diagnosed mind illness rather than slang
deranged
vsmentally ill
  • Offensive
77 7.6

Not able to think or act in a normal, reasonable way

describes a recognized illness that disrupts thinking or behaviour
unhinged
vsmentally ill
  • Offensive
27 7.8

A person who is not thinking or acting in a normal and safe way

means diagnosed illness that seriously disturbs thinking feeling or behavior
unbalanced
vsmentally ill
14 5.7

A person who is not mentally well and often acts strangely

refers to a recognized disorder that disrupts normal thought and feeling
unsound
vsmentally ill
  • Formal
3 8.4

Mentally ill and not able to manage personal affairs

is the general medical term for serious illness of the mind
distempered
vsmentally ill
  • Archaic
8.5

In a disturbed state of mind or health

is a modern clinical term, not an older general illness description

Antonyms

119 3.2

Having a healthy mind and able to think clearly

How Severe

psychotic
  • Specialized
167 8.4
mentally ill
  • Vulgar
77 3.4
troubled
133 3.5
sane
119 3.2

Surface Forms

mentally ill positive

Morphology

mentally + ill

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'mentally' (relating to the mind) with 'ill' (unwell): the phrase simply specifies that the illness affects mental functioning rather than the body. This adverb + adjective composition is transparent and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Mentally ill literally links mentally, meaning 'mind', and ill, meaning 'sick'. Imagine a sickness that affects someone's thoughts and feelings instead of their body; that's why it means 'suffering from a mental illness' and having problems with thinking, feeling, or behavior.