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Silly and pointless; lacking intelligence and sense.
synonyms:foolishinsipid
The word 'fatuous' comes from the Latin 'fatuus', meaning 'foolish' or 'silly'. This Latin term is derived from 'fari', meaning 'to speak', suggesting a connection to speech that lacks substance.
Fatuous is typically used in literary and formal contexts, often to describe actions, comments, or behaviors that are perceived as lacking depth or intelligence.
While fatuous isn't commonly used in everyday conversation, it appears more frequently in literature, critiques, and discussions where a more sophisticated vocabulary is appreciated.
Despite his fatuous remarks during the meeting, he managed to charm everyone with his smile.
Her fatuous decision to ignore the warnings surprised all her friends.
The fatuous arguments presented in the debate left the audience more confused than informed.
The word 'fatuous' might evoke images of a blissfully unaware character in a comedy, and that's not far from its meaning! Originating from the Latin word for foolish, it has been used in English since the late 15th century to describe people or ideas that are absurdly silly. While you might not hear it every day at the coffee shop, it can certainly add a touch of flair to your vocabulary when discussing matters of intellect—or the lack thereof. So the next time someone makes a mind-numbing statement, feel free to label it as fatuous and watch the eyebrows raise!