inferiority complex

noun

Updated on: 18 Mar 2018

Definition of inferiority complex

1 : an acute sense of personal inferiority often resulting either in timidity or through overcompensation in exaggerated aggressiveness

2 : a collective sense of cultural, regional, or national inferiority

See inferiority complex defined for English-language learners

See inferiority complex defined for kids

Examples of inferiority complex in a Sentence

His shyness is the result of an inferiority complex.

Recent Examples of inferiority complex from the Web

But Obama’s simple existence pulled down America’s pants and exposed its flaccid inferiority complex to the world.

— michael harriot, The Root, "The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: Blame Obama and My Mama," 2 Mar. 2018
The Eagles advanced to two previous Super Bowls, but lost both to add what some in the city admit is something of an inferiority complex.

— jarrett bell, USA TODAY, "Eagles' Super Bowl victory parade gives Philadelphia its long-awaited celebration," 8 Feb. 2018
This being Canada, a country of chronic apologies that sometimes suffers an inferiority complex when confronted by its swaggering neighbor to the south, the chest-thumping wasn’t exactly loud.

— dan bilefsky, New York Times, "Canadians Greet Bombardier Decision With Pride and a Little Snark," 27 Jan. 2018
Winning one major professional sports championship since 1983 underpins that inferiority complex.

— ben shpigel, New York Times, "Eagles March Past Vikings to Super Bowl, Just as They Predicted," 21 Jan. 2018
Sold completely, and ready for our city to finally shed its inferiority complex.

— john canzano, OregonLive.com, "MLB playoffs live updates: Houston Astros at New York Yankees in Game 5 score, TV channel," 18 Oct. 2017
His children represent the products of his inferiority complex.

— ben sachs, Chicago Reader, "Comedy / Film Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories makes music out of humor and pain," 17 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inferiority complex.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of inferiority complex

1922

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler