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Sophomoric: meaning, definitions and examples

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sophomoric

 

[ sɒfəˈmɔːrɪk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

youthful behavior

The term 'sophomoric' is used to describe someone who is immature, overconfident, and lacks experience. It often refers to a second-year student in college, highlighting their naïve and sometimes pompous attitude. This word suggests a level of self-importance often coupled with a lack of depth in knowledge or opinion.

Synonyms

immature, inexperienced, naive, overconfident, pompous

Examples of usage

  • His sophomoric humor didn't appeal to the more mature audience.
  • She made sophomoric remarks about the complex subject.
  • Despite his sophomoric confidence, he struggled to understand the basics.
  • The sophomoric attitude of the team led to several mistakes.
  • Their sophomoric debates often ended in childish arguments.

Translations

Translations of the word "sophomoric" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sophomórico

🇮🇳 सोपोमोरिक

🇩🇪 sophomorisch

🇮🇩 sophomoric

🇺🇦 софоморний

🇵🇱 sophomoriczny

🇯🇵 ソフォモリック

🇫🇷 sophomorique

🇪🇸 sophomórico

🇹🇷 sophomoric

🇰🇷 소포모릭

🇸🇦 سوفوموريك

🇨🇿 sophomorický

🇸🇰 sophomorický

🇨🇳 大二的

🇸🇮 sophomorističen

🇮🇸 sophomoric

🇰🇿 софоморлық

🇬🇪 სოფომორიკული

🇦🇿 sophomoric

🇲🇽 sophomórico

Etymology

The word 'sophomoric' originates from the combination of the Greek word 'sophos', meaning 'wise', and 'moros', meaning 'foolish'. The term was first used in the early 20th century in the context of American colleges. In the education system, a 'sophomore' refers to a student in their second year, while 'sophomoric' has evolved to describe the immature characteristics often observed in students at this level. This reflects a transitional stage, suggesting that although sophomores have gained some knowledge since their freshman year, they still exhibit a lack of maturity and experience. Over the years, 'sophomoric' has found its way into various discussions about youth culture, indicating the persistence of this behavior beyond educational settings.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,719, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.