What does superstitious mean Meaning and Definition
What does superstitious mean
Pronunciation
/sʊptərˈstiːʃəs/
Part of Speech
Adjective
Definition
A feeling of fear or anxiety that something bad will happen because of something that seems to have no logical connection to the event, usually based on superstition or a feeling of unease.
Examples
- She has a superstitious fear of walking under ladders.
- He became superstitious about playing on Fridays.
Synonyms
- Fearful
- Anxious
Antonyms
- Rational
- Logical
Etymology
The word ‘superstitious’ comes from the Latin ‘superstitio’, which means ‘wickedness’, ‘idolatry’, or ‘bad habit’.
Usage Notes
Superstitious is often used to describe a person’s irrational fears or anxieties, but it can also be used to describe a general atmosphere of superstition or a feeling of unease.
Cultural References
In popular culture, superstitious references can be found in movies, books, and TV shows, often depicting characters with irrational fears or anxieties.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- “Breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck” (superstitious belief)
- “Black cat crossing your path is bad luck” (superstitious belief)
Related Words or Phrases
- Superstition
- Irrational
- Unexplained
Collocations
- to have a superstitious fear
- to be superstitious about
- to overcome superstitious fears
Frequency of Use
Superstitious is a relatively common word in modern language, often used in everyday conversations to describe a person’s irrational fears or anxieties.
Common Misspellings
- supersitious
- superstitions