superstitious

adjective

su·​per·​sti·​tious ˌsü-pər-ˈsti-shəs How to pronounce superstitious (audio)
: of, relating to, or swayed by superstition
a superstitious ritual
superstitiously adverb

Examples of superstitious in a Sentence

He's very superstitious and won't pitch without his lucky mitt.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Why tattoos are also associated with Friday the 13th While the superstitious may be avoiding taking any risks on Friday the 13th, those looking to get tattoos could be in for a good deal. Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024 Social scientists increasingly began observing and analyzing superstitious behavior in the 1800s. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 2 Oct. 2024 From the outset of its 1819 voyage, its crew faced difficulties—or, to a superstitious 19th-century sailor, bad omens. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024 Golfers are an incredibly superstitious bunch who pray not only for birdies to drop in the hole but for already struck tee shots to course correct mid-flight. Mike Dojc, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for superstitious 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English supersticious, from Anglo-French supersticius, from Latin superstitiosus, from superstitio

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of superstitious was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near superstitious

Cite this Entry

“Superstitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superstitious. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

superstitious

adjective
su·​per·​sti·​tious ˌsü-pər-ˈstish-əs How to pronounce superstitious (audio)
: of, relating to, or influenced by superstition
superstitiously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on superstitious

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!