Parrotish
Characterized by or exhibiting the qualities of a parrot; tending to repeat words or phrases without understanding their meaning; imitative and unoriginal in speech or behavior. This often implies a lack of critical thinking, independent thought, or genuine expression, resulting in repetitive and often superficial communication. The term suggests a mechanical repetition of information, devoid of context, comprehension, or the ability to adapt the speech to new situations. It can also describe a person or action mirroring someone else, especially in a thoughtless or slavish way. The underlying tone suggests a certain shallowness or lack of substance in the imitated behavior, rather than original thought or creative expression, often emphasizing the mechanical aspects of copying.
Parrotish meaning with examples
- The student's presentation was parrotish; he simply regurgitated the textbook's facts without offering any analysis or showing any genuine understanding of the topic. The teacher quickly pointed out the lack of critical insight, prompting the student to research the presentation again to grasp the subject better. This mechanical repetition did not impress the professor at all, and he received a lower grade.
- After the political rally, the media was filled with parrotish soundbites, as politicians and commentators repeated the same slogans and arguments, avoiding any real depth or nuanced discussion of the complex issues at hand, leading to disillusionment for many of the voters as the topic became tiring to watch.
- During the debate, the candidate's responses sounded parrotish, as they repeatedly used the same pre-prepared phrases regardless of the specific questions asked, the same scripted answer appeared again and again. The audience, in general, felt this style of communication revealed a lack of authenticity and perhaps avoided answering the true concerns.
- She noticed her friend's parrotish imitation of her mannerisms, repeating her favorite phrases and adopting similar styles of dress, however, the friend appeared to do this in a purely superficial way, missing her friend's original humor. It became slightly unnerving, as her attempts felt very shallow and forced, making their relationship a bit odd at times.
- The marketing team's strategy was criticized as parrotish, simply repeating the same successful campaign tactics of their competitors without adapting them to their own brand's unique identity or the current market trends. This led to a lack of originality and eventually led to underwhelming campaign success, prompting reevaluation.