hebephrenia

H4E1B3E1P3H4R1E1N1I1A1
/hiːbɪˈfɹiːnɪə/

noun

A form of schizophrenia characterized by inappropriate behavior and emotional responses.

Similar
hebephrenic schizophreniadisorganized schizophreniadisorganized type schizophrenia
OriginAncient Greek ἥβη →
Scrabble 21
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Meanings

nounhebephrenia (countable and uncountable, plural hebephrenias)

plural hebephrenias · alternative hebephrene

  1. countableuncountableclinical psychologyA form of schizophrenia characterized by inappropriate behavior and emotional responses.

    Sir: drinking is a problem without doubt: / Whether or not we like it, whether or not / The goddamn thing will put you on the spot / With heebiejeebies hebephrene or gout: / Or lumbago will set you tapping out / On brass ferrule to stool, to rest, to rot.

    1937, Malcolm Lowry, Prelude To Mammon
  2. countableobsoleteuncountableA type of mental disorder occurring during puberty characterized by silly behavior and inappropriate laughter.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna form of schizophrenia characterized by severe disintegration of personality including erratic speech and childish mannerisms and bizarre behavior; usually becomes evident during puberty; the most common diagnostic category in mental institutions

Similar
hebephrenic schizophreniadisorganized schizophreniadisorganized type schizophrenia
Broader
schizophreniaschizophrenic disorderschizophrenic psychosis
Also see
disorganized schizophreniahebephrenic schizophrenia

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἥβη“youthful beauty”
  2. Englishhebephrenia

From Ancient Greek ἥβη (hḗbē, “youthful beauty”) (also Ἥβη (Hḗbē, “the goddess Hebe”)) + φρήν (phrḗn, “mind”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan hebefrènia
  • hebefrèniaform of schizophrenia
Finnish hebefrenia
  • hebefreniaform of schizophrenia
French héboïdophrénie, hébéphrénie
  • héboïdophrénieform of schizophrenia
  • hébéphrénieform of schizophrenia
Greek ηβηφρένεια
  • ηβηφρένεια (ivifréneia)form of schizophrenia
Russian гебефрени́я
  • гебефрени́я (gebefreníja)form of schizophrenia
Ukrainian гебефренія
  • гебефренія (hebefrenija)form of schizophrenia
Cite this entry
APA

hebephrenia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hebephrenia

MLA

“hebephrenia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hebephrenia. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hebephrenia,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hebephrenia.

Source: hebephrenia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.