Meaning

(psychology) An uncontrollable repetition of a particular response, such as a word, phrase, or gesture, despite the absence or cessation of a stimulus, usually caused by a brain injury or other organic disorder..

Definitions by Sense

1. (psychology) An uncontrollable repetition of a particular response, such as a word, phrase, or gesture, despite the absence or cessation of a stimulus, usually caused by a brain injury or other organic disorder.
2. (psychology) The tendency to continue or repeat an act or activity after the cessation of the original stimulus.
3. The act or an instance of persevering; perseverance.
4. (derogatory) An argument by repetition; a mantra.

Example Sentences

Being subjected to this mantra once more re-evokes the perseveration we routinely suffer in the moral ambiguity characterising our supposedly post-politics milieu.

Perseveration with demonstrably false arguments. This is illustrated for creationism by the ability to construct an Index to Creationist Claims which describes the plethora of such false arguments, rebutted over and over in the scientific literature but persisted in by creationists.

Word Forms

• perseverations

Synonyms for perseveration

Related Words

When Should You Use Perseveration?

Use perseveration when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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