superstitious

/,sju:pə'stiʃəs/

Thân thiện

He avoids walking under a ladder because he is superstitious.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having or showing a belief in superstitions: Describes a person who believes in or is influenced by superstitions—irrational beliefs, often involving magic, luck, or the supernatural, that are not based on reason or scientific knowledge.
   • Arising from or caused by superstition: Describes feelings, fears, or actions that originate from such irrational beliefs.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • She is very superstitious and always avoids walking under ladders.
  • His superstitious fear of the number 13 made him anxious on Friday the 13th.
  • The villagers held superstitious beliefs about the old, abandoned house.

Advanced Usage

• "superstitious about": Having an irrational fear or belief regarding a specific thing.
  • Many athletes are superstitious about their pre-game routines.
• "superstitious nonsense": A phrase used to dismiss beliefs considered irrational.
  • He dismissed the old tales as superstitious nonsense.

Variants and Related Words

• Superstition (n): The irrational belief itself.
  • The superstition that a black cat brings bad luck is common.
• Superstitiously (adv): In a manner showing superstition.
  • He knocked on wood superstitiously after mentioning his good fortune.

Synonyms

• Irrational: Not logical or reasonable.
• Credulous: Too ready to believe things.
• Mythical: Based on myth or legend (in certain contexts).

Antonyms

• Rational: Based on reason or logic.
• Skeptical: Inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions.
• Scientific: Based on or characterized by the methods and principles of science.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• A bundle of superstitions: Describes a person who holds many superstitious beliefs.
  • My grandmother is a bundle of superstitions; she has a rule for everything.
• Break a superstition: To act against a superstitious belief.
  • He decided to break the superstition and finally opened an umbrella indoors.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. showing ignorance of the laws of nature and faith in magic or chance
   • finally realized that the horror he felt was superstitious in origin