myopic
Americanadjective
-
Ophthalmology. pertaining to or having myopia; nearsighted.
-
unable or unwilling to act prudently; shortsighted.
-
lacking tolerance or understanding; narrow-minded.
Other Word Forms
- myopically adverb
- nonmyopic adjective
- nonmyopically adverb
- unmyopic adjective
Etymology
Origin of myopic
Explanation
Myopic is an adjective meaning shortsighted in every sense. Whether you need glasses or a new attitude, if you can't see the forest for the trees, you're myopic. Myopic began as a description of the condition that made people squint and was easily cured with a pair of pink cat-eye glasses, but it came to include people or plans with a lack of foresight. Although it's good to live in the moment, it's not a compliment to be called myopic — a myopic party host might have festive decorations but no food for hungry guests, and myopic students have no interest in anything beyond what's on the test. In terms of pronunciation: it's a tomato/tomahto word: pronounce it "my-OP-ick" or "my-OH-pick," although that short o sound is preferred.
Vocabulary lists containing myopic
To Kill a Mockingbird
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Grade 9, List 6
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Unbroken
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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.
That doctor looked at the back of Kekoa’s eyes and diagnosed him with myopic degeneration, a dramatic form of nearsightedness.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026
Without sense, it could be a myopic rumination on climate change mixed with a treacly buddy comedy, where two opposing temperaments clash into a discordant, aggravating mess.
From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026
Researchers also observed additional disruptions in eye turning during accommodation and reduced effectiveness of eye blinks in triggering pupil constriction in myopic eyes.
From Science Daily • Feb. 19, 2026
The incidence of myopia is highest in Southeast Asia—maybe not surprising given the heavy cultural emphasis on academics—where an estimated 80% of students who complete 12 years of school are myopic.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025
When all the lights were out and the house was silent, Dr. Cuevas’s assistant, a sickly, myopic young man with a stutter, arrived.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
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.
