near-sighted

A student squints at the chalkboard because she is near-sighted.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Unable to see distant objects clearly: "near-sighted" describes a person who can see objects that are close to them clearly, but objects at a distance appear blurry. This condition is medically known as myopia.
   • Figuratively, lacking foresight: "near-sighted" can also mean having a limited or short-sighted perspective, focusing only on immediate concerns rather than long-term consequences.

Usage Examples

• Literal (vision):

  • She is near-sighted and needs glasses to read road signs. (She cannot see distant objects clearly without correction.)

• Figurative (perspective):

  • His near-sighted policy ignored the environmental impact for quick profits. (His policy lacked long-term vision.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be near-sighted about something": to have a limited or narrow view on a topic.

  • The company was near-sighted about the need for digital transformation. (They focused only on short-term gains.)

• "near-sightedness" (noun): the condition of being near-sighted, either literally (myopia) or figuratively (lack of foresight).

  • Her near-sightedness made it difficult to play outdoor sports. (Her vision condition.)
  • The near-sightedness of the government led to a financial crisis. (Lack of long-term planning.)

Variants and Related Words

• Near-sightedness (noun): the state or condition of being near-sighted.

  • The doctor diagnosed him with near-sightedness. (Medical condition of myopia.)

• Near-sightedly (adverb): in a near-sighted manner.

  • He near-sightedly approved the project without considering risks. (He acted with limited foresight.)

Synonyms

• Myopic: a formal synonym for near-sighted, especially in medical or figurative contexts.

  • Myopic investors failed to see the market crash coming. (Short-sighted investors.)

• Short-sighted: a common synonym, interchangeable with near-sighted in both literal and figurative senses.

  • A short-sighted decision can harm the company later. (A decision lacking foresight.)

Related Idioms

• See only what is under one's nose: to focus only on immediate, close things, ignoring the bigger picture.

  • He sees only what is under his nose, never planning for the future. (He is near-sighted in his thinking.)

• Cannot see the forest for the trees: to be so focused on small details that one misses the overall situation.

  • Her near-sighted approach made her miss the company's main goals. (She was too focused on minor issues.)