superstitious

adjective

su·​per·​sti·​tious ˌsü-pər-ˈsti-shəs How to pronounce superstitious (audio)
: of, relating to, or swayed by superstition
a superstitious ritual
superstitiously adverb

Examples of superstitious in a Sentence

He's very superstitious and won't pitch without his lucky mitt.
Recent Examples on the Web The rulers of Assyria seemed to be superstitious themselves, or at least paranoid. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024 Somehow, despite the fact that Romo was the actual human who played the game, Simpson was blamed by many of the team’s more superstitious fans for the loss – a reaction widely criticized for its misogynistic undertones. Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024 The parents are characterized as either considered uneducated or superstitious to understand the value of rehydration salts. Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 27 Feb. 2024 The superstitious observance began in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania – where Punxsutawney Phil got his name and his start as a rodent meteorologist. Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 2 Feb. 2024 Afterward, Sol is anxious to share with Mom her silent, superstitious request to the gods. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2024 For some Chinese audiences, re-releasing the film on its seventh anniversary has superstitious significance because seven years symbolizes sticking together for a lifetime. Patrick Frater, Variety, 12 Dec. 2023 But recent research pushes back against the depiction of the early Middle Ages as ignorant and superstitious, arguing that there is a consistency and rationality to healing practices at that time. Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023 Statistical evidence doesn’t quite support the phenomenon, but the level of superstitious caution on Wall Street is real. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 4 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'superstitious.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English supersticious, from Anglo-French supersticius, from Latin superstitiosus, from superstitio

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of superstitious was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near superstitious

Cite this Entry

“Superstitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superstitious. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

superstitious

adjective
su·​per·​sti·​tious ˌsü-pər-ˈstish-əs How to pronounce superstitious (audio)
: of, relating to, or influenced by superstition
superstitiously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on superstitious

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