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Sophomores get a bad rap. A lot of people seem to think they're foolish (no matter what they do), when they themselves know they're pretty wise. The history of the words sophomore and sophomoric (which developed from sophomore) proves that it has always been tough to be a sophomore. Those words probably come from a combination of the Greek terms sophos (which means "wise") and mōros (which means "foolish"). But sophomores can take comfort in the fact that some very impressive words, including philosopher and sophisticated, are also related to sophos.

Examples of sophomoric in a Sentence

His behavior at the party was sophomoric.

Recent Examples on the Web Discord posts are full of sophomoric, even banal stereotypes about Black people—as genetically inferior, as predisposed to crime. — Keeanga-yamahtta Taylor, The New Yorker, 15 May 2022 What’s needed in Washington is genuine fiscal reform and fiscal discipline, not sophomoric demagoguery, gimmicks, and stunts. — The Editors, National Review, 29 Mar. 2022 Humor, both sublime and silly, sophomoric and sophisticated, unleashed with purpose, can often help communicate very real, hard truths about American society. — Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2022 Jackass Forever is being released only in theaters, providing the opportunity for its fans who find constant hilarity in its sophomoric antics to share their pleasure with like-minded brethren. — Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Feb. 2022 Unlike Jude, McKay has no real sense of humor, just sophomoric ridicule. — Armond White, National Review, 12 Jan. 2022 Within months of the July 1994 release of Portrait of an American Family, Marilyn Manson’s first middle finger to the world, an ardent fan base was clamoring to embrace the band’s sophomoric darkness. — Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2021 Had Michigan wilted during the ensuing 15 minutes as its double-digit lead eroded, the between-quarter antics would have looked sophomoric. — Michael Cohen, Detroit Free Press, 10 Oct. 2021 This wasn’t the sophomoric libertarianism of Ayn Rand or the weed-and-sandals libertarianism of 1990s college campuses. — Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 15 Aug. 2021 See More

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

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