adjective

myopic

/maɪˈɑːpɪk/ · say it: my·AH·pik

lacking foresight; thinking only of the short term

In From the Opinion Pages

In more detail

1. (adjective) lacking foresight or good judgment about the future; short-sighted in thinking

2. (adjective) needing glasses to see distant objects clearly; having myopia

Examples

1. The government's myopic approach to climate change ignored long-term dangers.
2. People with myopic vision can see nearby objects clearly but struggle to read distant signs.

How to use myopic

Myopic is used both literally in medical contexts (a condition requiring corrective lenses) and figuratively to criticize someone's inability to think strategically or consider long-term consequences. The figurative sense is far more common in business, politics, and academic discourse, suggesting short-sighted judgment rather than simply limited vision. It often carries a mildly pejorative tone when applied to policies or decisions.

Common phrases

myopic view
myopic vision
myopic approach
myopic focus
myopic perspective
myopic thinking

Synonyms

short-sighted · narrow-minded · unimaginative · lacking foresight · parochial

Opposites

farsighted · visionary · prescient

Word family

myopia (noun) · myopically (adverb) · myope (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse myopic with myopic in pronunciation or assume it only refers to the medical condition, missing its frequent use as a metaphor for poor strategic thinking.

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