sociopath
Empathy-deficient person
A sociopath is a person who lacks normal moral feeling or conscience—someone who manipulates, deceives, or harms others without guilt or remorse.
The term is informal, largely replaced in clinical contexts by antisocial personality disorder.
In casual use, sociopath often describes anyone perceived as cold, calculating, or indifferent to others' suffering: My ex was a complete sociopath.
The related psychopath overlaps substantially; distinctions between them are debated and inconsistent.
Skilled at controlling others
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
- charmingPleasantly attractive in manner
glib · exploitative · remorseless · callous · impulsive · grandiose · parasitic · irresponsible
Underhanded control of others
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- gaslightingManipulation causing self-doubt
lying · conning · intimidation · abuse · fraud · betrayal · violation · predation
Organism that consumes others
- threatIndication of potential harm
- menaceSource of potential harm
- abuserOne who mistreats others
- offenderOne who breaks rules
criminal · violent · ruthless · merciless · cold-blooded · calculating · unpredictable · harmful
Compellingly attractive to others
- persuasiveAble to convince others
- seductivePowerfully attractive, tempting
- glibSuperficially articulate
- smooth-talkerPersuasive, flattering speaker
superficial · ingratiating · captivating · mask · facade · likeable · disarming · confident
Slang for unstable person
- monsterFrightening imaginary creature
- snakeLimbless scaled reptile
- predatorOrganism that consumes others
- wolfWild pack canine
shark · creep · user · con-artist · swindler · schemer · villain · backstabber
Cruel emotional indifference
- remorselessnessState of feeling no regret
- narcissismExcessive admiration of oneself
- impulsivityActing without considering consequences
- disinhibitionReduced behavioral restraint
amorality · cold-heartedness · deceitfulness · superficiality · glibness · egocentricity · irresponsibility · DSM
manipulative
Skilled at controlling others
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
charming · glib · exploitative · remorseless · callous · impulsive · grandiose · parasitic · irresponsible · shallow
manipulation
Underhanded control of others
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
gaslighting · lying · conning · intimidation · abuse · fraud · betrayal · violation · predation · grooming
predator
Organism that consumes others
offender · criminal · violent · ruthless · merciless · cold-blooded · calculating · unpredictable · harmful · destructive
charismatic
Compellingly attractive to others
- persuasiveAble to convince others
- seductivePowerfully attractive, tempting
- glibSuperficially articulate
smooth-talker · superficial · ingratiating · captivating · mask · facade · likeable · disarming · confident · engaging
psycho
Slang for unstable person
- monsterFrightening imaginary creature
- snakeLimbless scaled reptile
- predatorOrganism that consumes others
wolf · shark · creep · user · con-artist · swindler · schemer · villain · backstabber · heartless
callousness
Cruel emotional indifference
- remorselessnessState of feeling no regret
- narcissismExcessive admiration of oneself
- impulsivityActing without considering consequences
disinhibition · amorality · cold-heartedness · deceitfulness · superficiality · glibness · egocentricity · irresponsibility · DSM · diagnosis
- archetypeshero, villain, trickster, mentor, mother
- criminal psychologycriminal mind, motive, intent, premeditation, profiling
- antisocialhostile, unfriendly, antagonistic, aggressive, aggression
- mental healthpsychiatry, psychotherapy, mental illness, psychiatrist, therapist
- personalitypersonality, trait, temperament, traits, character
- character typesprotagonist, hero, antagonist, villain, heroes
sociopathempath
One who absorbs emotions
bleeding heart · nurturer · caregiver · Mother Teresa · people person