Sophomoric

Characterized by juvenile, immature, and pretentious behavior. Often indicative of a superficial understanding and an overestimation of one's own knowledge or cleverness. It typically involves displaying a sense of superiority based on limited experience, making light of serious topics, and frequently relying on crude humor or poorly executed attempts at wit. The term suggests a lack of refinement and a tendency towards silly or foolish actions. It implies an awkward transition stage, often linked to the second year of college or university, where one may believe they possess profound insights, which, in reality, fall short of genuine wisdom.

Sophomoric meaning with examples

• The movie's humor relied heavily on sophomoric toilet jokes, which, while amusing to some, left many viewers feeling underwhelmed by the lack of real comedic depth. Critics noted the sophomoric script, lamenting the wasted potential of the talented cast and the director's reliance on low-brow gags.
• During the debate, the candidate’s sophomoric remarks about complex economic issues revealed his lack of understanding and damaged his credibility with the voters. His simplistic solutions and boastful pronouncements came across as naive and unbefitting someone seeking leadership.
• The online forum quickly devolved into a sophomoric war of insults and memes, stifling any chance of constructive dialogue about the important topic. The moderators struggled to control the immature behavior, as users continued posting rude and irrelevant comments, making the discussion difficult.
• His sophomoric attempt to impress the girls with his knowledge of obscure trivia backfired when they realized he was just quoting Wikipedia and had no real understanding. The conversation shifted when the women revealed their actual level of expertise on the subject. The teenager was left feeling embarrassed.
• Despite the serious nature of the situation, the journalist's sophomoric reporting on the crisis trivialized the suffering of the victims. His frivolous tone and lack of sensitivity towards the emotional and physical harm reduced the impact of the stories he attempted to publish.