Dementia — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /di-ˈmen(t)-shə/ de·men·tia

Meaning & Definition of Dementia

Dementia (noun)

  1. a usually progressive condition (such as Alzheimer's disease) marked by the development of multiple cognitive deficits (such as memory impairment, aphasia, and the inability to plan and initiate complex behavior)
  2. madness, insanity

Dementia (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life

    "doctors were able to treat the patient's dementia with drugs and thus allow him to function on his own"

    similar: aberration, derangement, insanity, lunacy, madness, mania, rage (archaic)
    related: neurosis, psychosis, instability, irrationality, unreasonableness, delirium, frenzy, hysteria, hallucinosis, hypomania, paranoia, schizophrenia, senile dementia, delusion, hallucination, monomania, obsession, phobia, abnormality, dementedness, unsoundness
    opposite: mind, saneness, sanity
    near: lucidity, rationality, rationalness, reasonability, reasonableness, normality, soundness

Related Entry: Senile dementia (noun)

Senile dementia is a different word from Dementia. The synonyms below are for senile dementia, not for dementia.

  1. as in dementedness, paranoia

    similar: aberration, dementia, derangement, insanity, lunacy, madness, mania, rage (archaic), hallucinosis, hypomania, paranoia, schizophrenia, delirium, frenzy, hysteria, abnormality, dementedness, unsoundness, monomania, obsession, phobia, neurosis, psychosis, instability, irrationality, unreasonableness, delusion, hallucination
    opposite: mind, saneness, sanity, lucidity, rationality, rationalness, reasonability, reasonableness, normality, soundness

Related Entry: Schizophrenia (noun)

Schizophrenia is a different word from Dementia. The synonyms below are for schizophrenia, not for dementia.

  1. a very serious mental illness in which someone cannot think or behave normally and often experiences delusions

    similar: hallucinosis, hypomania, paranoia, aberration, dementia, derangement, insanity, lunacy, madness, mania, rage (archaic), neurosis, psychosis, instability, irrationality, unreasonableness, delirium, frenzy, hysteria, senile dementia, delusion, hallucination, monomania, obsession, phobia, abnormality, dementedness, unsoundness
    opposite: lucidity, rationality, rationalness, reasonability, reasonableness, normality, soundness, mind, saneness, sanity

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Dementia

The most common words with a similar meaning to Dementia:

Archaic: rage
aberration, derangement, insanity, lunacy, madness, mania

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Dementia

Words with the opposite meaning of Dementia:

mind, saneness, sanity

Related Words for Dementia

neurosis, psychosis, instability, irrationality, unreasonableness, delirium, frenzy, hysteria, hallucinosis, hypomania, paranoia, schizophrenia, senile dementia, delusion, hallucination, monomania, obsession, phobia, abnormality, dementedness, unsoundness

Near Antonyms of Dementia

lucidity, rationality, rationalness, reasonability, reasonableness, normality, soundness

Word Forms of Dementia

Derived words: demential (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Dementia

borrowed from Latin dēmentia "derangement, insanity, folly," noun derivative of Latin dēment-, dēmens "out of one's mind, frenzied, insane," from dē- de- + -ment, -mens, adjective derivative of ment-, mens "power of reason, mental balance, mind" mind:1

First known use: 1806

Words & Phrases Containing Dementia

dementia praecox, dementia pugilistica, senile dementia

Frequently Asked Questions about Dementia

What does "Dementia" mean?

"Dementia" means a usually progressive condition (such as Alzheimer's disease) marked by the development of multiple cognitive deficits (such as memory impairment, aphasia, and the inability to plan and initiate complex behavior). As a noun, it is defined as: a usually progressive condition (such as Alzheimer's disease) marked by the development of multiple cognitive deficits (such as memory impairment, aphasia, and the inability to plan and initiate complex behavior).

What is another word for "Dementia"?

Other words for "Dementia" include aberration, derangement, insanity, lunacy, madness, mania and rage. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Dementia" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Dementia"?

There are 28 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Dementia". Common alternatives include aberration, derangement, insanity, lunacy, madness, mania and rage.

What is the opposite of "Dementia"?

Antonyms of "Dementia" include mind, saneness and sanity. Near antonyms include lucidity, rationality, rationalness and reasonability.

How do you use "Dementia" in a sentence?

Examples of "Dementia" in a sentence: "doctors were able to treat the patient's dementia with drugs and thus allow him to function on his own".

Is "Dementia" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Dementia" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Dementia"?

"Dementia" is pronounced /di-ˈmen(t)-shə/ and divided into syllables as de·men·tia.

What is the origin of the word "Dementia"?

"Dementia" comes from borrowed from Latin dēmentia "derangement, insanity, folly," noun derivative of Latin dēment-, dēmens "out of one's mind, frenzied, insane," from dē- de- + -ment, -mens, adjective derivative of ment-, mens "power of reason, mental balance, mind" mind:1. First known use: 1806.