simplistic
adjective
Harlow RobinsonMatt RidleyNaomi Rosenblum
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The facts of nature and of life are more apt to be complex than simple. Simplistic theories are generally one-sided and partial, wrote the American clergyman James Freeman Clarke in the 19th century, nicely illustrating the difference between plain, ordinary simple and the then-new adjective simplistic. Simplistic is generally synonymous with oversimplified, but we didn't have the verb oversimplify and its participle oversimplified until well into the 20th century. Simplistic is sometimes used in the neutral sense of "not complicated" (in which case it is synonymous with simple) but this borders on misuse-simplistic is generally understood to be pejorative.
Examples of simplistic in a Sentence
Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
The simplistic answer is to say the birthplace of modern soccer is the Freemasons’ Tavern, an old pub situated in the West End of London.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 8 June 2026
But throughout the 19th century and well into the 20th, a simplistic patriotic narrative prevailed.
—Yoni Appelbaum, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026
While this might seem too simplistic a solution to a dandelion problem, good lawn care practices do more than defend turf against weeds; insects and diseases will be less prevalent, too.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Simplistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/simplistic. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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simplistic
adjective
