Fatuous
hardNegative toneFACH-oo-us
adjective
Definition
smugly foolish; silly and complacent
Memory hook
FATUOUS sounds like 'FAT-U-US': a smug, FAT-headed fool grinning vacantly, too silly to notice anything.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“He greeted the crisis with a fatuous grin and no plan at all.”
“The committee dismissed the proposal as a fatuous waste of everyone's time.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“He greeted the crisis with a ______ grin and no plan at all.”
Show answer
fatuous
Categories
GRE Tip
Fatuous is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "inane" or "asinine" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "sensible".
Related GRE Words
vacuous
empty of meaning, intelligence, or substance
aberrant
Deviating from what is normal or expected
artless
free of guile or pretense; naturally simple and sincere
astute
Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage
capricious
Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior
circumspect
Wary and unwilling to take risks; cautious
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