Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SOLIPSISTIC
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pronounce
SOLIPSISTIC:
Say it "SOLL up SIS tick."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
Let's put today's word, solipsistic, into a mental file folder labeled "Philosophical words for everyday life."
That folder already holds several terms:
1. There's m______ism, the belief that if we try, we can make the world a better place.
2. There's e_ ____lo, the term we use for things created out of nothing, or from scratch.
3. And there's an___ ___di, the soul of the world: a spirit that seems to unite all living things.
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
The words "solipsism" and "solipsistic" have been around in English since about 1836. They come from the writings of the philosopher Immanuel Kant. Inside those words, you can see the Latin roots for "alone" (solus) and "self" (ipse).
To believe in solipsism is to believe that you are the only thing that's real, that your reality is the only reality, and that your own mind is the only thing you can be sure truly exists.
So, solipsistic people or things are extremely self-centered, as if denying the reality of other people.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Adjective: "that solipsistic theory;" "How can she be so solipsistic?"
Other forms:
Solipsism, solipsist(s), solipsistically.
how to use it:
This rare, formal word tends to sound both scholarly and insulting, so use it with care!
You might pick it instead of "insular" when you need to describe an extremely insular attitude.
And you might talk about solipsistic people, groups, attitudes, moods, thinking, or theories.
examples:
"Renewed travel is as certain a guarantee of further coronavirus spread as anything can be. The risk is not just from travellers into Britain but – the bit this solipsistic country rarely mentions – by British travellers heading abroad."
— The Guardian, 3 July 2020
"Something about the burning of Notre Dame has engendered a flood of elegies... Why is this loss so affecting? Yes, landmarks similarly saturated with history as Notre Dame are dying, too, as we watch in relative silence... [but] those cities are the other and Paris is us. We're too solipsistic to muster the same degree of grief."
— Molly Roberts, Washington Post, 17 April 2019
has this page helped you understand "solipsistic"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "solipsistic" without saying "outrageously self-centered" or "acting like you ARE the entire universe."
try it out:
If we call someone "solipsistic," we're frustrated with them. They seem to be foolishly stuck inside their own mind, refusing to notice that other people's perspectives and experiences are real.
Talk about a time when someone's solipsistic attitude frustrated you. Or, talk about a time you realized you were being solipsistic.
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game for November is "SpongeBob Shakespeare."
Check out the goofy quote below. Is it from SpongeBob Squarepants, or is it a modern-English version of a quote from Shakespeare?
I'll list the answer at the bottom of each issue. Enjoy!
Try this one today:
"My eyes smell onions."
review this word:
A. KINDNESS, GENEROSITY, and OPEN-MINDEDNESS.
B. EMPATHY, UNDERSTANDING, and THEORY OF MIND.
C. INSIGHT, SELF-KNOWLEDGE, and MEDITATIVE MINDFULNESS.
2. Children can be little solipsists, _____.
A. reciting the Pledge without understanding the words
B. unaware that other people have their own thoughts and emotions
C. pounding back one Snickers bar after the other with no thought of the consequences
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Let's put today's word, solipsistic, into a mental file folder labeled "Philosophical words for everyday life."
The words "solipsism" and "solipsistic" have been around in English since about 1836. They come from the writings of the philosopher Immanuel Kant. Inside those words, you can see the Latin roots for "alone" (solus) and "self" (ipse).
Part of speech:
This rare, formal word tends to sound both scholarly and insulting, so use it with care!
"Renewed travel is as certain a guarantee of further coronavirus spread as anything can be. The risk is not just from travellers into Britain but – the bit this solipsistic country rarely mentions – by British travellers heading abroad."
Explain the meaning of "solipsistic" without saying "outrageously self-centered" or "acting like you ARE the entire universe."
If we call someone "solipsistic," we're frustrated with them. They seem to be foolishly stuck inside their own mind, refusing to notice that other people's perspectives and experiences are real.
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
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