Psychobabble - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Psychobabble refers to the excessive or meaningless use of psychological jargon, often to sound impressive or authoritative without providing real insight. It can confuse rather than clarify.
Definition:
Jargon-filled language that misuses psychological terms, often to sound impressive or obscure.
Synonyms:
gibberish, jargon, mumbo jumbo, pseudoscience
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
clarity, plain speech
Common Collocations:
empty psychobabble, dismiss as psychobabble, full of psychobabble
Derivatives:
psychobabbler, psychobabbling
Usage Tips:
Use "psychobabble" to criticize vague or pretentious language masquerading as psychological insight.
Common Phrases:
"It's just psychobabble, " "drowning in psychobabble, " "psychobabble-filled explanation"
Etymology:
Blend of "psycho-" (relating to the mind) and "babble" (meaningless talk), coined in the 1970s.
Examples:
- 1. The self-help book was full of confusing psychobabble.
- 2. She dismissed his explanation as mere psychobabble.
- 3. The therapist avoided using psychobabble to keep things clear.
- 4. His speech sounded impressive but was just psychobabble.