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🤔 Skeptical and witty 🧑‍🎓 A skeptic
Voltairian

Voltairian

9.9
Like Voltaire's ideas, showing doubt, sharp wit, and criticism of authority
  • adjective
  • /voʊlˈtɛr.i.ən/
  • Formal
translation icon : volteriano
  • His lectures on philosophy often take a Voltairian approach, emphasizing the importance of questioning authority and tradition.

Examples

  • The novel was praised for its Voltairian humor, cleverly critiquing societal norms and established beliefs.

  • Alan Kors is colorful in uttering it and just as persuasive when he gives his Voltairian advice on how to deal with any campus speech code: "Crush this infamy!"

    Academic text (1997)

  • With a Voltairian perspective, the critic challenged conventional wisdom, urging readers to think for themselves.

Synonyms

Voltarean
vsVoltairian
  • Formal
9.9

Showing sharp, clever irony and doubt like the writer Voltaire

is more about attacking established beliefs rather than general doubt
Voltarian
vsVoltairian
  • Formal
9.9

A style that uses witty, ironic, and sharp criticism like the writer Voltaire

is more about questioning beliefs rather than only harsh criticism
Voltairean
vsVoltairian
  • Formal
9.5

Showing clever, often funny doubt and criticism of accepted ideas

is more focused on criticizing established beliefs than broad critical thinking

How Skeptical

scathing
19 7.7
sardonic
9 8.1
Voltairian
  • Formal
9.9
credulous
7 8.3

Surface Forms

Voltairian positive

Morphology

Voltairian = Voltaire (semi-transparent) = Voltaire + ian

The suffix '-ian' denotes relation to Voltaire, but understanding requires knowledge of Voltaire's ideas.

Etymology

Voltairian comes from the name Voltaire, a famous French writer known for his sharp wit and for questioning old authorities. So a Voltairian attitude means using clever humor and careful 'doubt' to challenge unfair ideas.