catatonic UK /kæ.təˈtɒn.ɪk/US /kæ.təˈtɑn.ɪk/adjective 2noun 1forms 3 adjective2 •Of, relating to, or suffering from catatonia; having a tendency to remain in a rigid state of stupor for long periods which give way to short periods of extreme agitation.It was plausible that Cara became more catatonic in order to avoid a painful and overwhelming confrontation with terrifying but repressed memories of child abuse. — 2006 •(figurative) Motionless and unresponsive, as from shock; withdrawn.Further and further he would withdraw from the world, becoming more and more catatonic — withdrawing completely from his hateful world to the only real and secure comfort he had ever known, the womb. — 2004 noun1 •A patient in a state of catatonia.An inspection of Table IV shows that the catatonics have the lowest mean reversal score of all the groups. — 1953 formscatatonics · more catatonic · most catatonic
