literal-minded
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of literal-minded
First recorded in 1865–70
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.
This more-is-more approach also means that Ms. Poswa can come off as too literal-minded in several sections, repeating as she does the same idea over and over.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
"Sensitivity to language is important and necessary, but we've become too literal-minded".
From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2024
As Elizabeth Yuko wrote for the History Channel last year, it was the rise of Charismatic Christianity — and televangelists like Billy Graham — who helped bring the fiery and literal-minded approach to contemporary demon-busting.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2023
Miss Manners would suggest “I’m sorry to hear that,” but those literal-minded folks might respond, “Then I guess I shouldn’t have told you.”
From Washington Post ● Dec. 28, 2021
It is inadequate if the listener is merely passive, if he falls into the mistake of the literal-minded who expect words to contain a precise image of reality.
From A Preface to Politics by Walter Lippmann
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.
