Is is a subjective term, but it is becoming more and more prevalent to mean "better" or "superior." An example sentence might be, "I hang around a sophiticated crowd." Isn't everyone sophisticated in their own way?
2006-07-06 15:38:22 · 7 answers · asked by westernndguy 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Well, if you're using the word the way you did in the example, "I hang around a sophisticated crowd," then it does sound pretty awkward and pretentious. Saying it that way implies the speaker thinks of himself or herself as sophisticated. That may be true, and it's fine for a person to think that about him- or herself, but last time I checked, bragging about oneself like that wasn't the sort of social skill the average person would want in a friend. Then again, "hang around" is far from a sophisticated phrase, so the sentence itself is sort of an oxymoron. And the entire sentence would have more impact if the speaker said he or she hangs WITH a sophisticated crowd. I could go to a fancy hotel in NYC and hang "around" the wealthy, sophisticated crowd too. But I'm not really a part of the wealthy, sophisticated crowd unless I'm hanging "with" them.
YKWIM?
Man, am I long-winded tonight. LOL!
2006-07-06 15:47:56 · answer #1 · answered by emarray 2 · 5⤊ 2⤋
I do not agree with you. I believe people only use the word sophisticated to define who they are. It is not matter of them trying to be better or superior but more like they are just being definite about who they happen to be.
If we are to find negative connotations on even such a simple word, time will come when we will not be able to see things as simple as they are anymore.
Sophistication sometimes come with maturity, carrying oneself well alone and with crowd, sadly, it does not apply to all hence, not all can be sophisticated in their own ways.
2006-07-06 22:45:43 · answer #2 · answered by Jo Ann 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe that anyone CAN be sophisticated in their own way, but only if they want to be...some people just down right don't care. and sophisticated is just another word for well mannered...and yes, it is used quite often to make the person using it seem as if they're better or higher in rank than others...but thats not the right way in using the term, and the person using would then be ignorant for using a word that they have no knowlege of the meaning.
2006-07-06 22:44:40 · answer #3 · answered by PrYncEsSa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Um...no. Paris Hilton is definitely NOT sophisticated. Neither is Larry the Cable Guy. Sorry, everyone is NOT equal in every way.
P.S. Sophisticated doesn't mean "better" or "superior". It just means more worldly and complex. Quite often, people who become more worldly just become more annoying, and not at all better.
2006-07-06 22:45:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How many times can one possibly sneak that into a conversation with out looking like it's their new word for the day. I would think someone trying to show off would have a bigger (more sophisticated) vocabulary to back it up.
2006-07-06 22:43:30 · answer #5 · answered by gnomes31 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know they are, but then again its really human nature to want to be "superior" then the person next to you, how offten do you hear someone say "ofcourse I hang around with the stupid crowd".
2006-07-06 22:44:53 · answer #6 · answered by Tation 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they are. No, they are not.
Perhaps 'sophisticated' will be the next word to become denatured and lose its meaning, as 'gay' did.
2006-07-07 00:29:17 · answer #7 · answered by cdf-rom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋