Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to or suffering from catatonia: Describes a state of severe mental disturbance characterized by either muscular rigidity and lack of response, or by extreme limpness and passivity.
   • Resembling or suggestive of catatonia: Used more informally to describe a state of being dazed, unresponsive, or immobile, often due to shock, surprise, or extreme emotion.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The patient was found in a catatonic state, staring blankly at the wall for hours.
  • After hearing the shocking news, she sat catatonic, unable to speak or move.
  • The medication can sometimes induce a catatonic stupor as a side effect.

Advanced Usage

• "catatonic depression": A severe form of depression where the individual may become mute and immobile.

  • His condition worsened into a catatonic depression, requiring intensive hospital care.

• "catatonic schizophrenia": A subtype of schizophrenia marked by periods of catatonic behavior.

  • The classic symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia include waxy flexibility and posturing.

Variants and Related Words

• Catatonia (n): The medical condition itself, characterized by motor disturbances and behavioral symptoms.

  • The diagnosis was catatonia, a syndrome often associated with severe mental illness.

• Catatonically (adv): In a catatonic manner.

  • He stared catatonically out the window, oblivious to his surroundings.

Synonyms

• Stuporous: In a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility.
• Comatose: In a state of deep unconsciousness; often used figuratively for extreme lethargy.
• Unresponsive: Not reacting or responding to stimuli.

Related Phrases

• To go catatonic: An informal phrase meaning to become dazed and unresponsive, often from shock.
  • When he saw the accident, he just went catatonic for a moment.

Related Idioms

• Like a catatonic: Used informally to describe someone who is extremely still and unresponsive.
  • After the marathon, he lay on the couch like a catatonic.

Adjective

1. characterized by catatonia especially either rigidity or extreme laxness of limbs