Lobotomy

/ləˈbɑːtəmi/
noun

A surgical operation that involves cutting into the brain to treat mental illness.

In the 1950s, some patient's with severe mental disorders were treated with lobotomy.
Visual representation of "lobotomy" - A surgical operation that involves cutting into the brain to treat mental illness.

Often appears as...

  • perform a lobotomy
  • frontal lobotomy

Usage tips

Formal, Disapproving

Technical

noun

Used to suggest that someone is behaving in a way that lacks complexity, as if their emotions or intelligence has been removed.

That medication has left him feeling like he's had a lobotomy.
Visual representation of "lobotomy" - Used to suggest that someone is behaving in a way that lacks complexity, as if their emotions or intelligence has been removed.

Often appears as...

  • feel like a lobotomy
  • undergone a lobotomy

Usage tips

Informal, Disapproving

Colloquial

noun

A surgical operation that involves cutting into the brain to treat mental illness.

In the 1950s, some patient's with severe mental disorders were treated with lobotomy.
Visual representation of "lobotomy" - A surgical operation that involves cutting into the brain to treat mental illness.

Often appears as...

  • perform a lobotomy
  • frontal lobotomy

Usage tips

Formal, Disapproving

Technical

noun

Used to suggest that someone is behaving in a way that lacks complexity, as if their emotions or intelligence has been removed.

That medication has left him feeling like he's had a lobotomy.
Visual representation of "lobotomy" - Used to suggest that someone is behaving in a way that lacks complexity, as if their emotions or intelligence has been removed.

Often appears as...

  • feel like a lobotomy
  • undergone a lobotomy

Usage tips

Informal, Disapproving

Colloquial

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "lobotomy"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Historical Controversy

Lobotomy was controversial due to its serious and often negative effects on patients.

Illustration for Historical Controversy
The dark history of lobotomy shows how medicine can evolve.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Specific Technique

A lobotomy specifically referred to cutting brain nerves to alter mental state.

Illustration for Specific Technique
Lobotomies involved severing connections in the brain's prefrontal lobe.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Medical Rarity

Lobotomies are rare today, considered unethical and replaced with better treatments.

Illustration for Medical Rarity
Doctors no longer perform lobotomies, thanks to modern medicine.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Historical Controversy

Lobotomy was controversial due to its serious and often negative effects on patients.

Illustration for Historical Controversy
The dark history of lobotomy shows how medicine can evolve.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Specific Technique

A lobotomy specifically referred to cutting brain nerves to alter mental state.

Illustration for Specific Technique
Lobotomies involved severing connections in the brain's prefrontal lobe.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Medical Rarity

Lobotomies are rare today, considered unethical and replaced with better treatments.

Illustration for Medical Rarity
Doctors no longer perform lobotomies, thanks to modern medicine.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Historical Controversy

Lobotomy was controversial due to its serious and often negative effects on patients.

Illustration for Historical Controversy
The dark history of lobotomy shows how medicine can evolve.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Specific Technique

A lobotomy specifically referred to cutting brain nerves to alter mental state.

Illustration for Specific Technique
Lobotomies involved severing connections in the brain's prefrontal lobe.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Medical Rarity

Lobotomies are rare today, considered unethical and replaced with better treatments.

Illustration for Medical Rarity
Doctors no longer perform lobotomies, thanks to modern medicine.
Visual representation of the word "Lobotomy"

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Video examples

Sherwin Nuland: How...

And he dug in his heels and said, "No. I know this man better than any of you. I have met with him over and over again. You've just seen him from time to time. You've read reports and so forth. I really honestly believe that the basic problem here is pure depression, and all of the obsessional thinking comes out of it. And you know, of course, what'll happen if you do a prefrontal lobotomy.

Video examples

Sherwin Nuland: How...

And he dug in his heels and said, "No. I know this man better than any of you. I have met with him over and over again. You've just seen him from time to time. You've read reports and so forth. I really honestly believe that the basic problem here is pure depression, and all of the obsessional thinking comes out of it. And you know, of course, what'll happen if you do a prefrontal lobotomy.

Example 1 of 1

Quote examples

Andrea Riseborough

English Actress

I've always been so confused about being a girl. Not in a Bruce Jenner way, just... there's that expectation where you walk into a room, and it's like, Is it OK to be a woman?' Or, you know, you're looking for your keys in the back of a cab, and sometimes the driver can treat you like you've had a lobotomy.
Portrait of Andrea Riseborough

Quote examples

David Souter

American Judge

I find the workload of what I do sufficiently great that when the term of court starts, I undergo a sort of annual intellectual lobotomy.
Portrait of David Souter

Quote examples

Philip Anschutz

My friends think I'm a candidate for a lobotomy, and my competitors think I'm naive or stupid or both. But you know what? I don't care.
Portrait of Philip Anschutz

Quote examples

Kathryn Schulz

American Journalist

If you want to live a life free of regret, there is an option open to you. It's called a lobotomy.
Portrait of Kathryn Schulz

Quote examples

Fred Allen

American Comedian

I'd rather have a full bottle in front of me than a full frontal lobotomy.
Portrait of Fred Allen

Quote examples

David Byrne

Scottish Musician

Analysis is like a lobotomy. Who wants to have all their edges shaved off?
Portrait of David Byrne

Quote examples

Tom Waits

American Musician

I'd rather have a free bottle in front of me than a prefrontal lobotomy.
Portrait of Tom Waits

Quote examples

Andrea Riseborough

English Actress

I've always been so confused about being a girl. Not in a Bruce Jenner way, just... there's that expectation where you walk into a room, and it's like, Is it OK to be a woman?' Or, you know, you're looking for your keys in the back of a cab, and sometimes the driver can treat you like you've had a lobotomy.
Portrait of Andrea Riseborough

Quote examples

David Souter

American Judge

I find the workload of what I do sufficiently great that when the term of court starts, I undergo a sort of annual intellectual lobotomy.
Portrait of David Souter

Quote examples

Philip Anschutz

My friends think I'm a candidate for a lobotomy, and my competitors think I'm naive or stupid or both. But you know what? I don't care.
Portrait of Philip Anschutz

Quote examples

Kathryn Schulz

American Journalist

If you want to live a life free of regret, there is an option open to you. It's called a lobotomy.
Portrait of Kathryn Schulz

Quote examples

Fred Allen

American Comedian

I'd rather have a full bottle in front of me than a full frontal lobotomy.
Portrait of Fred Allen

Quote examples

David Byrne

Scottish Musician

Analysis is like a lobotomy. Who wants to have all their edges shaved off?
Portrait of David Byrne

Quote examples

Tom Waits

American Musician

I'd rather have a free bottle in front of me than a prefrontal lobotomy.
Portrait of Tom Waits
Example 1 of 7
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