myopic
5 synonyms and 4 antonyms for myopic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Focused only on immediate concerns and failing to consider the longer term.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Focused only on immediate concerns and failing to consider the longer term.
“Cutting the training budget was a myopic decision that cost them a decade of talent.”
Opposites
2. adjective medical
Unable to see distant objects clearly; short-sighted.
“He has been myopic since childhood and cannot read a road sign without glasses.”
Opposites
How to Use Myopic
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
The figurative sense dominates in general writing and is mildly critical. The eye-condition sense belongs to medicine, where the noun is myopia.
Etymology
From Greek myops 'short-sighted', from myein 'to shut' and ops 'eye', describing the habit of narrowing the eyes to see distant things.
Full origin of myopic →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between myopic and short-sighted?
They mean the same thing in both senses, but myopic is the more formal and clinical word while short-sighted is the plainer everyday choice. In criticism, myopic tends to sound more scathing.
Is myopic an insult?
It is a criticism rather than an insult when used figuratively — it says a person or policy lacks foresight, not that they lack intelligence. Applied to eyesight it is a neutral medical description with no judgement attached.