sophomoric
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to a sophomore or sophomores.
-
suggestive of or resembling the traditional sophomore; intellectually pretentious, overconfident, conceited, etc., but immature.
sophomoric questions.
- Synonyms:
- juvenile, adolescent, childish
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sophomoric
Explanation
Anything sophomoric is foolish and immature. It was totally sophomoric of your friends to throw our clothes into the swimming pool. It's acceptable to use this adjective to mean "characteristic of or relating to a sophomore," so you could describe your sophomoric extracurriculars in high school, like marching band and chess club. It's far more common, however, for sophomoric to be derogatory, appropriate for describing your younger sister's ridiculous practical jokes or the class clown's antic. This word derives from contrasting Greek roots, sophos, "wise," and mōros, "foolish and dull."
Vocabulary lists containing sophomoric
Inexperienced
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Martin Eden
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soph
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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.
You were more of a corraller than a content creator, but you shared the same sophomoric humor with the animation guys who put Comedy Central into the stratosphere: “South Park,” “Beavis and Butt-Head,” “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025
While the memes were “mean-spirited, sophomoric, inartful, misguided, and crude,” the state Supreme Court justices wrote in their opinion, they were “plainly not intended to threaten Student One, Student Two, or any other person.”
From Salon • Jul. 29, 2025
The episodes highlight some seriously twisted creativity packed with adult humor, sci-fi-inspired sophomoric shenanigans and homages to popular culture.
From Washington Times • Dec. 1, 2023
Written by Lino K. Villa, it’s an enjoyably sophomoric romp that’s also playfully queer, thanks to a nutty detour involving a character named Popo.
From New York Times • Sep. 14, 2023
In the days when Felix Piers was in the habit of patronizing the place there floated to his ears such phrases as "bad colour scheme!" "sophomoric treatment!" "miserable drawing!" "no atmosphere!"
From Fifth Avenue by Maurice, Arthur Bartlett
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.
