inferiority complex
noun
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
The team’s signature creation, the Canadian Beaver, was played by Pomerantz as a bucktoothed rodent with an inferiority complex about his imperialistic neighbor to the south, the American Eagle.
—
Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
People with an inferiority complex typically have low self-esteem and a lack of self-worth.
—Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 25 Oct. 2024
In psychology, these feelings of insecurity or inadequacy are referred to as an inferiority complex.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
There’s a lot of resentment there, mostly from Kyle’s side, who still has an inferiority complex from the days of being the slob to Adam’s TV hunk, despite having ascended beyond his onetime screen partner on the comic-book movie ladder.
—Jack King, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inferiority complex 
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.
Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
People with an inferiority complex typically have low self-esteem and a lack of self-worth.
—Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 25 Oct. 2024
In psychology, these feelings of insecurity or inadequacy are referred to as an inferiority complex.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
There’s a lot of resentment there, mostly from Kyle’s side, who still has an inferiority complex from the days of being the slob to Adam’s TV hunk, despite having ascended beyond his onetime screen partner on the comic-book movie ladder.
—Jack King, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inferiority complex
Dictionary Entries Near inferiority complex
Cite this Entry
“Inferiority complex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inferiority%20complex. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share