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.
Instead, like the Boston Red Sox and the ‘Curse of the Bambino‘, Mayo’s long years of heartbreak come wrapped in a cloud of superstitious folklore. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026 One of the Padres’ elder statesmen, Xander Bogaerts, might be the most superstitious guy in the clubhouse. — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 July 2026 Crochet said his teammates aren’t superstitious enough to ask him to continue to stay below deck. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 July 2026 Vilified for superstitious or erroneous beliefs, many of these species did not actually compete with people for food or pose other significant dangers. — Elan Abrell, The Conversation, 22 July 2026 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

Rhymes for superstitious

See All Rhymes for superstitious

Browse Nearby Words

Superstition Mountains
superstitious
superstitious use
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Superstitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superstitious. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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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

Nglish: Translation of superstitious for Spanish Speakers

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