adjective
superstitious
soo-pur-STISH-us/ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃəs/
Believing in or based on unfounded ideas about omens, luck, or supernatural influences.
The superstitious woman tosses spilled salt over her shoulder to avert bad luck.
Etymology
Latin superstitiosus expressed dread of the supernatural. In English, the adjective came to describe not just beliefs involving magic or supernatural powers, but also the people who hold or practise them.
In context
old Heroes and Kings who had lived in early times and had acquired a reputation for Supernatural powers by the fame of their exploits exaggerated in descending by tradition in superstitious times
More examples
- He was superstitious about changing his lucky shoes.
- The story explores a superstitious belief about mirrors.
- She dismissed the warning as superstitious nonsense.
Forms
superstitious
Similar words
- credulous
- More broadly means too ready to believe unsupported claims.
- irrational
- Irrational is broader and need not involve belief in supernatural luck or omens.