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Manichean for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: ,mænə'kiən

What does Manichean really mean?

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Alright, so "Manichean" is a fancy word that comes from the ancient religion of Manichaeism. But don't worry, we don't need to talk about ancient religions or anything like that. When we use the word "Manichean" today, we're usually talking about something that's really black and white, like you see things as either very good or very bad, with no in-between. It's like seeing things in two extreme ways without any middle ground or gray area.

For example, imagine you're watching a movie and the bad guy is super evil, and the good guy is really, really good. There's no complexity or depth to the characters, everything is just very clear-cut and obvious. That's a Manichean story because it's all about extreme good and extreme bad with nothing in between.

So, when we say something is "Manichean," we're talking about a way of thinking or a story that's very simple and doesn't show the complexity of real life. It's like seeing the world in only two colors, without all the shades and nuances.

I hope that makes sense! Let me know if you have any questions.

Revised and Fact checked by Olivia Brown on 2023-11-15 13:30:09

Manichean In a sentece

Learn how to use Manichean inside a sentece

  • The movie depicted a Manichean struggle between good and evil, with the hero battling against a sinister villain.
  • The political debate was characterized by a Manichean view, with each side seeing the other as completely wrong and themselves as completely right.
  • The novel explored the Manichean nature of human morality, showing how people are often torn between doing the right thing and giving in to their selfish desires.
  • The religious sect had a Manichean belief system, dividing the world into absolute categories of good and evil with no middle ground.
  • The company's marketing campaign used a Manichean approach, presenting their product as the solution to all problems and their competitors as untrustworthy and inferior.

Manichean Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Manichean Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Manichean Pertains To

Words to which the original word is relevant