nearsighted
3 synonyms and 4 antonyms for nearsighted, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Able to see things clearly only when they are close, with distant objects appearing blurred; short-sighted.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Able to see things clearly only when they are close, with distant objects appearing blurred; short-sighted.
“I'm too nearsighted to read the road signs without my glasses.”
Opposites
2. adjective
Concerned only with immediate results and failing to consider longer-term consequences.
“Cutting the training budget to hit this quarter's target was a nearsighted decision.”
Opposites
How to Use Nearsighted
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral and everyday in American English. British writers usually say short-sighted; myopic is the medical term.
Etymology
A compound of near and sighted, describing sight that works only at near range.
Full origin of nearsighted →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between nearsighted and farsighted?
A nearsighted person sees close objects clearly and distant ones blurred, because the eye focuses light in front of the retina. A farsighted person has the opposite problem: distance is easier and close work such as reading is blurred. Nearsightedness is corrected with concave (minus-power) lenses, farsightedness with convex (plus) ones.
Is nearsighted the same as myopic?
Yes. Myopic is the clinical term for the same condition, from the Greek for "closing the eyes", and it appears on prescriptions and in medical notes. Nearsighted is the everyday American word for it.
Is it nearsighted or short-sighted?
They mean exactly the same thing; nearsighted is standard in American English and short-sighted in British English. In the figurative sense of poor planning, short-sighted is the more common form on both sides of the Atlantic.