shortsighted
Americanadjective
-
unable to see far; nearsighted; myopic.
-
lacking in foresight.
a shortsighted plan.
- Synonyms:
- improvident, careless, heedless, unthinking
- Antonyms:
- prudent
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of shortsighted
First recorded in 1615–25
Explanation
If you're shortsighted, you do something without considering the long-term effects of your actions. It's shortsighted to eat a massive snack at 5:30 when you promised your grandmother you'd come for dinner at 6. A city council might make the shortsighted decision to save money this year by drastically cutting the school budget. They're so focused on right now that they neglect to think about the negative consequences for students. Such a shortsighted action might even hurt the city itself in the future, when people move away in search of better-funded schools. In the UK, shortsighted also means "nearsighted," but in North America the more figurative meaning is most common.
Vocabulary lists containing shortsighted
Compound Fracture
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Part 2 Vocabulary (Unit 5)
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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.
Foley, however, cautioned that trying to pinpoint any one factor of disease growth is probably shortsighted.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
The latter was shortsighted, as the Journal’s report on the transfer of centrifuges to Pickaxe Mountain makes clear.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Was Emily’s shortsighted severity only cruelty—or was there, beneath her breath, an amusingly admirable level of passion?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026
Analysts argue concerns over Microsoft’s $100 billion capital expenditure are shortsighted, as cloud contracts cover hardware life.
From Barron's ● Apr. 1, 2026
Meanwhile, if shortsighted, they were at least realistic.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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.
