psychobabble

[sahy-koh-bab-uhl] / ˈsaɪ koʊˌbæb əl /

NOUN

rhetoric using psychological terms

Synonyms

STRONG

argot buzzword jargon patter self-help

WEAK

pop psych psychospeak

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Characters swing in tone between saccharine psychobabble and the ramblings of old men trying to figure out how to use their computers.

From Slate • Nov. 11, 2019

It may sound like esoteric psychobabble, or an overemphasis on something that should be inherent in players.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 7, 2019

Biological theories of and treatments for the brain, notably drugs like Thorazine, lithium, Valium and Prozac, displaced Freudian psychobabble and transformed psychiatry into a truly scientific discipline.

From Scientific American • Aug. 3, 2019

We Americans simply adore this entire transactional/Return-on-Invement psychobabble even when it comes to the most intimate details of our lives: the love in a marriage/partnership.

From New York Times • Feb. 10, 2018

I see what Alicia's saying, but I'm not going to get sucked into some stupid psychobabble session.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements