What is another word for myopic?
The literal sense of
myopic means the same thing as
nearsighted or
shortsighted—meaning a person can’t see distant things clearly. The medical term for this condition is
myopia, and
mypoic is its adjective form.
Myopic is commonly used in a metaphorical way. It can describe a person who doesn’t thoroughly think things through, or it can describe things, such as decisions or plans, that lack
foresight. A decision or plan considered
myopic could be described as
ill-advised or
ill-considered.
Nearsighted and
shortsighted can also be used in this metaphorical way.
Myopic can also be used to describe someone considered
narrow-minded or
closed-minded—
intolerant or lacking understanding.
What is the opposite (antonym) of myopic?
In terms of literal eyesight,
myopia (nearsightedness) could be considered the “opposite” of
farsightedness, technically known as
hyperopia, whose adjective form is
hyperopic (
hypermetropic and
hypermetropical are also used). The word
farsighted can be considered an antonym of both the literal and figurative senses of
myopic. It suggests foresight or
prudent planning. The opposite of the sense of
myopic meaning narrow-minded or closed-minded is
open-minded or
tolerant.
Where does myopic come from?
The word myopic comes from a Greek word meaning “nearsighted,” or, more literally, “blinking.” It’s a combination of roots meaning “shut” and “eye.” The first records of the word myopic in English come from the late 1700s.
How do you use myopic in a sentence?
Myopic is commonly used in a metaphorical sense. It’s often applied to poorly thought-out plans or decisions, or to the people who make them. Here are some examples of
myopic in a sentence:
- My optometrist says I’m myopic.
- Their plan seems particularly myopic—there are several potential consequences they clearly haven’t considered at all.
- He has been criticized for being myopic about social issues.
