fatuously

WOTD – 15 December 2007    

English

Etymology

fatuous +‎ -ly

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈfæt.ju.əs.li/
• (US) IPA: /ˈfætʃ.u.əs.li/

• Audio (US)

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Adverb

fatuously (comparative more fatuously, superlative most fatuously)

1. With smug stupidity or vacuous silliness; idiotically.
   • 1835, Michael Ryan (ed.), "Reform in the College of Physicians", London Medical and Surgical Journal, Vol. VII, G. Henderson, page 153,

     Will they, like the fellows, judiciously bear a hand in sweeping the stable, or will they fatuously wait to be themselves swept with a besom of destruction?

Synonyms

• (with smug stupidity): foolishly, idiotically, stupidly

Related terms

• fatuity
• fatuous
• fatuousness