Codependent
adjective
A person who relies too much on others for emotional or psychological support.
He realized he had become codependent on his partner, always needing validation and approval to feel secure.
Often appears as...
- become codependent
- codependent relationships
adjective
In the field of mental health, it is a type of dysfunctional helping where one person supports or enables another person's addiction, poor mental health, immaturity, irresponsibility, or lower performance.
It's common for family members to become codependent when one member struggles with addiction.
Often appears as...
- codependent relationship
- codependent behavior
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
A person who relies too much on others for emotional or psychological support.
He realized he had become codependent on his partner, always needing validation and approval to feel secure.
Often appears as...
- become codependent
- codependent relationships
adjective
In the field of mental health, it is a type of dysfunctional helping where one person supports or enables another person's addiction, poor mental health, immaturity, irresponsibility, or lower performance.
It's common for family members to become codependent when one member struggles with addiction.
Often appears as...
- codependent relationship
- codependent behavior
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Dependency
The term implies a weakness or an unhealthy attachment in personal relationships.
After therapy, she realized her constant need to please others was a sign of being codependent.
Pro Tip 2/3Relational Context
Often used to describe romantic or familial relationships where one person supports another's poor habits.
Their codependent friendship involved covering for each other's shortcomings.
Pro Tip 3/3Psychological Support
Highlights an excessive psychological reliance on someone else, hinting at an imbalance in support.
He was codependent on his peers, requiring their approval to make decisions.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Dependency
The term implies a weakness or an unhealthy attachment in personal relationships.
After therapy, she realized her constant need to please others was a sign of being codependent.
Pro Tip 2/3Relational Context
Often used to describe romantic or familial relationships where one person supports another's poor habits.
Their codependent friendship involved covering for each other's shortcomings.
Pro Tip 3/3Psychological Support
Highlights an excessive psychological reliance on someone else, hinting at an imbalance in support.
He was codependent on his peers, requiring their approval to make decisions.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Dependency
The term implies a weakness or an unhealthy attachment in personal relationships.
After therapy, she realized her constant need to please others was a sign of being codependent.
Pro Tip 2/3Relational Context
Often used to describe romantic or familial relationships where one person supports another's poor habits.
Their codependent friendship involved covering for each other's shortcomings.
Pro Tip 3/3Psychological Support
Highlights an excessive psychological reliance on someone else, hinting at an imbalance in support.
He was codependent on his peers, requiring their approval to make decisions.
Compare with
collaborativecomplementaryconnectdependentinterdependentmutualreliantsupport
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Video examples
My Life As an Adventure...
supplements and some people eat it and krill oil and different things like that but we need to be responsible work we need to kind of wrap our heads around what is the appropriate amount of food to take out because we're going to just wipe out all these animals that are completely codependent on this thing so
Video examples
Kevin Kelly: The next...
And the second thing is, we're going to restructure its architecture. And thirdly, we're going to become completely codependent upon it. So let me go through those three things. First of all, we have all these things in our hands. We think they're all separate devices, but in fact, every screen in the world
Video examples
My Life As an Adventure...
supplements and some people eat it and krill oil and different things like that but we need to be responsible work we need to kind of wrap our heads around what is the appropriate amount of food to take out because we're going to just wipe out all these animals that are completely codependent on this thing so
Video examples
Kevin Kelly: The next...
And the second thing is, we're going to restructure its architecture. And thirdly, we're going to become completely codependent upon it. So let me go through those three things. First of all, we have all these things in our hands. We think they're all separate devices, but in fact, every screen in the world
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Weyes Blood
American Musician
As we become more codependent with technology, it's not necessarily based on our desire for the technology but our desire for interconnectivity and wanting to stay connected, which is a natural human instinct. The technology itself is kind of emotionally manipulative.
Quote examples
Pamela Adlon
American Actress
I'm somebody who, if I went to the grocery store, and one of them wasn't with me, I would feel guilty. I would be like, 'I shouldn't be doing anything without them, anytime, ever.' A very codependent way of thinking. Also, motherhood is hugely about guilt.
Quote examples
Melody Beattie
American Writer
I gave three years of my life to take care of my dying mother who had Alzheimer's disease. Being there for her every need for three years might have looked codependent but it wasn't because it was what I wanted to do.
Quote examples
Melody Beattie
American Writer
It's hard to give up the self-esteem connected to being codependent and appearing 'right,' which is probably a survival behavior learned from growing up in a crazy family. It feels like you will actually disappear.
Quote examples
Gail Sheehy
American Writer
If you begin to think you are solely responsible for keeping your loved one alive and safe, you will eventually find yourself playing God. This phase can develop into an unhealthy, codependent relationship.
Quote examples
Susanna Fogel
American Director
My writing partner, Joni Lefkowitz, and I love studying girl friendships in particular because they seem defined by a combination of codependent intimacy and subtle, constant passive-aggressiveness.
Quote examples
Melody Beattie
American Writer
A codependent person is one who has let another person's behavior affect him or her and who is obsessed with controlling that person's behavior.
Quote examples
Michael Feldman
American Entertainer
I tell people my only successful long-term relationship was with Jim Packard. He was my rock. I didn't realize how codependent I was.
Quote examples
Amanda de Cadenet
English Photographer
I believe I was a codependent out of the womb and have been struggling to free myself from its vice-like grip for many, many years.
Quote examples
Rene Russo
American Actress
Being married, I would say most relationships are pretty codependent in some ways.
Quote examples
Weyes Blood
American Musician
As we become more codependent with technology, it's not necessarily based on our desire for the technology but our desire for interconnectivity and wanting to stay connected, which is a natural human instinct. The technology itself is kind of emotionally manipulative.
Quote examples
Pamela Adlon
American Actress
I'm somebody who, if I went to the grocery store, and one of them wasn't with me, I would feel guilty. I would be like, 'I shouldn't be doing anything without them, anytime, ever.' A very codependent way of thinking. Also, motherhood is hugely about guilt.
Quote examples
Melody Beattie
American Writer
I gave three years of my life to take care of my dying mother who had Alzheimer's disease. Being there for her every need for three years might have looked codependent but it wasn't because it was what I wanted to do.
Quote examples
Melody Beattie
American Writer
It's hard to give up the self-esteem connected to being codependent and appearing 'right,' which is probably a survival behavior learned from growing up in a crazy family. It feels like you will actually disappear.
Quote examples
Gail Sheehy
American Writer
If you begin to think you are solely responsible for keeping your loved one alive and safe, you will eventually find yourself playing God. This phase can develop into an unhealthy, codependent relationship.
Quote examples
Susanna Fogel
American Director
My writing partner, Joni Lefkowitz, and I love studying girl friendships in particular because they seem defined by a combination of codependent intimacy and subtle, constant passive-aggressiveness.
Quote examples
Melody Beattie
American Writer
A codependent person is one who has let another person's behavior affect him or her and who is obsessed with controlling that person's behavior.
Quote examples
Michael Feldman
American Entertainer
I tell people my only successful long-term relationship was with Jim Packard. He was my rock. I didn't realize how codependent I was.
Quote examples
Amanda de Cadenet
English Photographer
I believe I was a codependent out of the womb and have been struggling to free myself from its vice-like grip for many, many years.
Quote examples
Rene Russo
American Actress
Being married, I would say most relationships are pretty codependent in some ways.
Example 1 of 10
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