Shortsighted

Shortsightedness describes a lack of foresight or the inability to anticipate future consequences. It signifies a focus on immediate gains or concerns, often neglecting long-term implications or wider perspectives.

This can manifest in decisions, plans, or viewpoints that prioritize present convenience over future success or well-being.

It suggests a limited understanding of the overall picture and a tendency to make judgments based on narrow, incomplete information, leading to suboptimal outcomes.

This nearsightedness can apply to individuals, organizations, or even entire societies, hindering progress and creating unforeseen problems.

The concept implies a failure to consider the cascading effects of actions and the potential for change over time.

shortsighted actions often provide short-term relief but create long-term difficulties.

Shortsighted meaning with examples

• The company's shortsighted decision to cut research and development costs, to boost immediate profits, ultimately led to a decline in their market competitiveness and innovation. They failed to anticipate how this would affect their future product lines.
• Critics accused the government of being shortsighted in its environmental policies, focusing on short-term economic growth at the expense of long-term sustainability and ecological balance. This included no plan to change future carbon usage.
• His shortsighted financial planning, characterized by impulsive spending and a lack of savings, left him vulnerable to economic hardship during the economic crisis. He had no long term plan in place.
• She was shortsighted in her assessment of the situation, ignoring the potential risks and consequences, and rushing into a business deal without sufficient due diligence. This caused major losses in the long run.