simplistic
Americanadjective
adjective
-
characterized by extreme simplicity; naive
-
oversimplifying complex problems; making unrealistically simple judgments or analyses
Usage
Since simplistic already has too as part of its meaning, it is tautologous to talk about something being too simplistic or over-simplistic
Commonly Confused
Contrary to what some people believe, simplistic is not a fancy word for simple. Simplistic does not describe things that are easy to understand, deal with, or use. Those sorts of things are simply simple. However, if something is too simple—misleadingly so—then it is correctly called simplistic. An argument that glosses over or omits relevant facts and presents trite, hackneyed, slogan-like statements and sound bites is indeed simplistic. Simple —unlike simplistic —is a term that can describe not only issues, statements, and arguments, but all manner of things observable by our senses. It can describe art, music, food, clothing—just about anything. And it is a neutral term. That is, if something is said to be simple, that can be considered either a good thing or a bad thing depending upon one’s taste. But the word is very often used positively—as encapsulated in the well-worn creative principle “Less is more”—to describe language that is straightforward and easy to understand, clothing that is not overly elaborate or excessively decorated, or architecture with clean lines. And something simple can be elegant too. To describe such things as simplistic would be an insult to their creators. And it would be ironic to use what one thinks of as a more exotic, ornamental, impressive term to describe something clear or plain and unadorned—something that is, in fact, simple.
Other Word Forms
- simplism noun
- simplistically adverb
Etymology
Origin of simplistic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Where other shows would have flattened the tension between the men into a simplistic equation of a suitor terrified of his girlfriend’s father, the writers developed a different relationship for Reiner and Johnson.
From Salon
While it’s Ephron’s characteristically strong dialogue and flair for realism that so many viewers fall head over heels for, Reiner’s blissfully simplistic direction is what captures the spark of two people slowly falling in love.
From Salon
"Models based on physics were too assumption-heavy, while empirical models are too simplistic. We combined both approaches to get interior models that are both "agnostic" or unbiased and yet, are physically consistent."
From Science Daily
That has sparked legal challenges, with critics describing the guidelines as "legally flawed" and "overly simplistic".
From BBC
It is easy to blame the U.S. for derailing the climate deal—but that would be an overly simplistic interpretation.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
