pabulum

noun

pab·u·lum ˈpa-byə-ləm How to pronounce pabulum (audio)

: food

especially : a suspension or solution of nutrients in a state suitable for absorption

Roots deliver pabulum to the plant.

: intellectual sustenance

pabulum for consideration and reflection

: something (such as writing or speech) that is insipid, simplistic, or bland

wrote pabulum that was intended to offend no one

Did you know?

Pabulum derives from the Latin term for "food" or "fodder" and was first used in English in the 17th century for anything taken in by plants or animals to maintain life and growth. Within 30 years of its first appearance in English texts, it was also being used to refer to things so intellectually stimulating or nourishing that they could be considered food for thought. But the word took on a whole new flavor in the 1930s when a team of Canadian doctors formulated a highly nutritious (but bland) baby cereal and named their product "Pablum" (based on the Latin word). As a result, the similar-looking "pabulum" did a linguistic about-face and is now often used for things that are bland and unstimulating as well as for things that are intellectually sustaining.

Example Sentences

we have reached a cultural low if reality television is regarded as pabulum for the masses

Recent Examples on the Web Twitter account, which spouted pabulum about the decency of the human spirit, became extremely popular.

New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021 Try to imagine Britain’s prime minister rallying his nation to fight the Nazi war machine armed with this progressive pabulum.

Joseph Loconte, National Review, 9 Sep. 2020 After quoting extensively from a Communist writer, Kengor dismisses the content of the quotation out of hand without making any argument: This, of course, is relativistic pabulum.

Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 3 Sep. 2020 His onscreen counterpart in the film adaptation of this story, Memoir of a Murderer, trades in this complexity for more standard antihero pabulum (his only desire is to keep Eunhui safe).

Alana Mohamed, The Atlantic, 11 June 2019 The pabulum that passes for most reviews is an insult to the intelligence of most readers.

Christian Lorentzen, Harper's magazine, 10 Apr. 2019 They are just being fed this pabulum of leftist ideology.

Fox News, 25 Apr. 2018 Direct pronouncements from him are so rare that even this pabulum was treated as push-alert-worthy news.

Jane Mayer, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2018 And the realities of international diplomacy have, over decades, led spokespeople for presidents of both parties to offer near-identical pabulum on some of America's most vexing foreign policy questions.

Matt Lehrich, CNN, 26 May 2017 See More

单词	pabulum
释义	pabulum noun pab·u·lum ˈpa-byə-ləm 1 : food especially : a suspension or solution of nutrients in a state suitable for absorption Roots deliver pabulum to the plant. 2 : intellectual sustenance pabulum for consideration and reflection 3 : something (such as writing or speech) that is insipid, simplistic, or bland wrote pabulum that was intended to offend no one Did you know? Pabulum derives from the Latin term for "food" or "fodder" and was first used in English in the 17th century for anything taken in by plants or animals to maintain life and growth. Within 30 years of its first appearance in English texts, it was also being used to refer to things so intellectually stimulating or nourishing that they could be considered food for thought. But the word took on a whole new flavor in the 1930s when a team of Canadian doctors formulated a highly nutritious (but bland) baby cereal and named their product "Pablum" (based on the Latin word). As a result, the similar-looking "pabulum" did a linguistic about-face and is now often used for things that are bland and unstimulating as well as for things that are intellectually sustaining. Synonyms aliment food nourishment sustenance See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences we have reached a cultural low if reality television is regarded as pabulum for the masses Recent Examples on the Web Twitter account, which spouted pabulum about the decency of the human spirit, became extremely popular. New York Times, 17 Nov. 2021 Try to imagine Britain’s prime minister rallying his nation to fight the Nazi war machine armed with this progressive pabulum. Joseph Loconte, National Review, 9 Sep. 2020 After quoting extensively from a Communist writer, Kengor dismisses the content of the quotation out of hand without making any argument: This, of course, is relativistic pabulum. Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 3 Sep. 2020 His onscreen counterpart in the film adaptation of this story, Memoir of a Murderer, trades in this complexity for more standard antihero pabulum (his only desire is to keep Eunhui safe). Alana Mohamed, The Atlantic, 11 June 2019 The pabulum that passes for most reviews is an insult to the intelligence of most readers. Christian Lorentzen, Harper's magazine, 10 Apr. 2019 They are just being fed this pabulum of leftist ideology. Fox News, 25 Apr. 2018 Direct pronouncements from him are so rare that even this pabulum was treated as push-alert-worthy news. Jane Mayer, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2018 And the realities of international diplomacy have, over decades, led spokespeople for presidents of both parties to offer near-identical pabulum on some of America's most vexing foreign policy questions. Matt Lehrich, CNN, 26 May 2017 See More Word History Etymology Latin, food, fodder; akin to Latin pascere to feed — more at food First Known Use circa 1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Medical Definition pabulum noun pab·u·lum ˈpab-yə-ləm : food especially : a suspension or solution of nutrients in a state suitable for absorption pabulum noun as in nourishment something that maintains or stimulates the intellect we have reached a cultural low if reality television is regarded as pabulum for the masses Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance nourishment food aliment sustenance refection Antonyms & Near Antonyms pap candy pablum trash fluff
随便看	disseminators disseminule disseminules dissension dissensions dissensus dissensuses dissent dissent (from) dissent (to) dissent from dissent to dissentaneous dissented dissented (from) dissented (to) dissented from dissented to dissenter dissenters dissentience dissentiences dissentiencies dissentient dissentients

pabulum

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Medical Definition

noun

noun