shortsighted

American  

[shawrt-sahy-tid] / ˈʃɔrtˈsaɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. unable to see far; nearsighted; myopic.

2. lacking in foresight.

   a shortsighted plan.

   Synonyms:

   improvident, careless, heedless, unthinking

   Antonyms:

   prudent

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Other Word Forms

• shortsightedly adverb
• shortsightedness noun

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.

Example Sentences

Investors have become less interested in Tesla’s car business lately, but some analysts see that as shortsighted.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 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

Samantha Stevens, a Los Angeles political consultant and former legislative staffer, said she is worried the proposed changes are a shortsighted solution to address police abuses that will create another layer of bureaucracy.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

All these responses may seem cold or shortsighted.

From Salon • Nov. 17, 2025

Only the most shortsighted, however, failed to recognize that electronic computers were around for the long haul.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Related Words

• foolish
• ill-advised
• ill-considered
• impractical
• imprudent
• myopic
• stupid