Hobbesian

[ hob-zee-uhn ]

/ ˈhɒb zi ən /

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noun

a person who believes in or advocates the principles of Thomas Hobbes.

adjective

of, relating to, or recalling the principles of Thomas Hobbes.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of Hobbesian

First recorded in 1770–80; Hobbes + -ian

Words nearby Hobbesian

hob, Hoban, Hobart, Hobbema, Hobbes, Hobbesian, Hobbes, Thomas, Hobbism, hobbit, hobbits, hobble

How to use Hobbesian in a sentence

Indigenous people thrived on this continent for millennia not in some kind of Hobbesian state of nature but as communities.
The Toxic Masculinity of Tactical Survival Gear|cobrien|November 26, 2021|Outside Online
The capacity to be gracefully refuted in an argument is largely a moral one, and decreasing one’s desire for Hobbesian “dominion” is not something that another tutorial on statistics or game theory can achieve.
The power of rational thinking in a world that seems unreasonable|Nick Romeo|October 8, 2021|Washington Post
The disasters that follow her freeing the vast slave cities of the eastern deserts teach her some very Hobbesian lessons.
Daenerys Goes to Washington: The Modern Politics of ‘Game of Thrones’|Jedediah Purdy|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Men are more likely to have unrealistic expectations that they would succeed, rather than fail, in this Hobbesian state.
Why Aren't There More Women Libertarians, Ctd?|Justin Green|January 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Jeb Golinkin acknowledges the "quasi-Hobbesian" arguments advanced by gun rights advocates.
The Morally Serious Arguments from Gun Proponents|Justin Green|December 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But those kinds of decisions are going to set off a sort of Hobbesian war of all-against-all within the Democratic coalition.
Is Demography Destiny?|Megan McArdle|November 7, 2012|DAILY BEAST