A pseudointellectual is someone who spews great amounts of garbage, interlaces it with huge words, and then expects to be accepted by the generally weak-minded sheep as a true intellectual. they are to be pitied and shown no leniency whenever you tromp on them with an actual argument. script kiddies are often pseudointellectuals.
A weak minded person who tries to convince others that he is intelligent, by writing or talking nonsense using complicated terms and expressions is called pseudointellectual.
by kumz December 03, 2007
One who believes that they are truly intelligent, but isn't.
Found largely in college campuses, these people immerse themselves in a certain subject - may it be politics, philosophy, physics, etc - and spend a great deal of their lives memorizing as much as they can about it. In an attempt to prove to the world that they are gifted in the subject area, they talk in-depth about even the smallest facet of the subject, to anybody in earshot who's too polite to stop them; they tend to spin the conversation to do so.
To a temporary acquaintance, this technique usually works, and the listener parts with a feeling that the "expert" is intelligent. Spend time with this person, or perhaps know a little about what they're talking about, and you realize it is all just facts given in verbatim by others who are more intelligent than they could ever hope to be.
A sad thing, really, as those who do it have little else to be proud of, and define themselves by their "intelligence". As such, they will always seek validation for their efforts, but it is important not to call them on this. Instead, simply avoid the person... that is, unless you can't help yourself.
Found largely in college campuses, these people immerse themselves in a certain subject - may it be politics, philosophy, physics, etc - and spend a great deal of their lives memorizing as much as they can about it. In an attempt to prove to the world that they are gifted in the subject area, they talk in-depth about even the smallest facet of the subject, to anybody in earshot who's too polite to stop them; they tend to spin the conversation to do so.
To a temporary acquaintance, this technique usually works, and the listener parts with a feeling that the "expert" is intelligent. Spend time with this person, or perhaps know a little about what they're talking about, and you realize it is all just facts given in verbatim by others who are more intelligent than they could ever hope to be.
A sad thing, really, as those who do it have little else to be proud of, and define themselves by their "intelligence". As such, they will always seek validation for their efforts, but it is important not to call them on this. Instead, simply avoid the person... that is, unless you can't help yourself.
Jack and Sarah: "Oh, hey Jim! How's it going?"
Jim: "Great! I just finished reading an introductory book on string theory! It was a little bit below my reading level, to be honest, but a good read nonetheless! You see, what it has to do with is..."
*5 minutes later*
Jim: "...and that's the basic idea behind string theory! Problematic, yet with the potential to explain everything, eh? I'm really excited for the future!"
Sarah: "Wow! I don't understand that! You're smart!"
Jim: *gushes*
Jack: "Well, talk to you later, Jim."
Jack, under breath: "Fucking pseudointellectual..."
Jim: "Great! I just finished reading an introductory book on string theory! It was a little bit below my reading level, to be honest, but a good read nonetheless! You see, what it has to do with is..."
*5 minutes later*
Jim: "...and that's the basic idea behind string theory! Problematic, yet with the potential to explain everything, eh? I'm really excited for the future!"
Sarah: "Wow! I don't understand that! You're smart!"
Jim: *gushes*
Jack: "Well, talk to you later, Jim."
Jack, under breath: "Fucking pseudointellectual..."
by uncomfortable truth September 01, 2009
One who imposes a smart remark yet truly it makes little to no sense - nonsense. Usually happens when people come up with real bad comebacks that either make no sense or are thoughtless - empty words.
by Cee Marb August 02, 2006
(noun)
Being a person marked by having
1. The ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations
2. The skilled use of reason
3. The ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria
apparently rather than actually as stated.
Being a person marked by having
1. The ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations
2. The skilled use of reason
3. The ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria
apparently rather than actually as stated.
A person who pretends to be intelligent but isn't is a pseudointellectual
by GM Yami Yokaze December 20, 2004
Created solely as an attempt to display the author's intellectual prowess though actually void of real pith; intellectualism as style rather than substance. Often relies on heavy name dropping and erudite, obscure terminology instead of easily understood, common words.
As much as I like DJ Spooky, when he starts talking on the CD I always skip the tracks to avoid his long pseudointellectual musings.
by Ryan March 09, 2005
A bunch of academic quacks who have substantial abilities in faking their exaggerated reasoning abilities, and resent doing "real work" because they consider it "beneath them".
1. They question, or do not believe in the existence of God, because being an atheist makes them feel rebellious, distinctive, and "smart".
2. They sponge up much needed financial aid that would have been better invested in technical fields like engineering or medical research.
3. They are no valuable use to society. Their theory about the "Ambitions of Man" will not stop the emerging SuperAIDS epidemic from wiping out those who can't afford the state-of-the-art prescriptions. Same goes for SARS and the bird flu.
4. They congregate at StarBucks because without a adequate shot of caffeine, which is what their blood is mostly composed of, their heart rate would slow down and they will literally "freeze" to death.
1. They question, or do not believe in the existence of God, because being an atheist makes them feel rebellious, distinctive, and "smart".
2. They sponge up much needed financial aid that would have been better invested in technical fields like engineering or medical research.
3. They are no valuable use to society. Their theory about the "Ambitions of Man" will not stop the emerging SuperAIDS epidemic from wiping out those who can't afford the state-of-the-art prescriptions. Same goes for SARS and the bird flu.
4. They congregate at StarBucks because without a adequate shot of caffeine, which is what their blood is mostly composed of, their heart rate would slow down and they will literally "freeze" to death.
Pseudointellectuals believe in God and his Son's birth only during the Christmas season, so they can upgrade their cell phone plans and state their own independence from "mainstream" society by buying overpriced shirts from the Abercrombie captioned "Fuck Bush".
by C Tan March 19, 2006
A person who is controversial for the sake of being controversial. One who engaged in "mental masturbation."
by bobthechef November 07, 2005