WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
de•ca•thect
(dē′kə thekt′),USA pronunciation v.t.
de•ca•thex•is
(dē′kə thek′sis),USA pronunciation n.
- Psychologyto withdraw one's feelings of attachment from (a person, idea, or object), as in anticipation of a future loss:He decathected from her in order to cope with her impending death.
- de- + cathect