inferiority complex

noun

Definition of inferiority complex

1 : an acute sense of personal inferiority often resulting either in timidity or through overcompensation in exaggerated aggressiveness

2 : a collective sense of cultural, regional, or national inferiority

Examples of inferiority complex in a Sentence

His shyness is the result of an inferiority complex.

Recent Examples on the Web

Gray was an indifferent student who cheated on tests, and the new surroundings fed an inferiority complex. — Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, "James Gray’s Journey from the Outer Boroughs to Outer Space," 9 Sep. 2019 This plot gets rolled into a high-school trip, bundling Peter’s superhero inferiority complex with the more routine issues of his big crush on MJ and his efforts to keep his costumed identity secret from his classmates. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "Spider-Man: Far From Home," 27 June 2019 The Aggies haven’t won a national championship since FDR was president, and this produces a massive inferiority complex in the fan base that might be America’s most passionate. — Andy Staples, SI.com, "The Message Behind the Money: How Texas A&M Landed Jimbo Fisher," 28 June 2018 For a place with a civic inferiority complex but a rising profile in some tangible ways, this is heady stuff. — Sam Mellinger, kansascity, "The importance of Kansas City hearing 'yes' about the World Cup," 13 June 2018 As veteran Los Angeles Times music critic Robert Hilburn documents, Simon became one of America’s foremost songwriters largely because the world so dependably inflamed his inferiority complex. — Steve Almond, BostonGlobe.com, "Songs of insecurity and of experience," 23 May 2018 Always responding to Barkley’s jabs just reinforces the contention of some that San Antonio has a major inferiority complex. — Jim Lefko, San Antonio Express-News, "Sports writers discuss: Did the Saints jump the gun on UTSA's Davenport?," 11 May 2018 But Obama’s simple existence pulled down America’s pants and exposed its flaccid inferiority complex to the world. — Michael Harriot, The Root, "The Root’s Clapback Mailbag: Blame Obama and My Mama," 2 Mar. 2018 The Eagles advanced to two previous Super Bowls, but lost both to add what some in the city admit is something of an inferiority complex. — Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY, "Eagles' Super Bowl victory parade gives Philadelphia its long-awaited celebration," 8 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inferiority complex.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.