Sophomores get a bad rap. A lot of people seem to think they’re foolish (no matter what they do), when they themselves know they’re pretty wise. The history of the words sophomore and sophomoric (which developed from sophomore) proves that it has always been tough to be a sophomore. Those words probably come from a combination of the Greek terms sophos (which means “wise”) and mōros (which means “foolish”). But sophomores can take comfort in the fact that some very impressive words, including philosopher and sophisticated, are also related to sophos.

Examples

Judd’s behaviour at the party was sophomoric, but I’ve seen a more mature side to him in other settings.

“Good cause notwithstanding, eager Brad-and-Jen fans were laser-focused on Pitt’s reaction to one of Aniston’s lines. ‘Hi, Brad,’ Aniston said to her former spouse while in character. ‘You know how cute I always thought you were.’ … Not to be too sophomoric, but let’s admit it … he totally blushed.” — Emma Specter, Vogue, 18 Sept. 2020