- Today's Word
Sybaritic
sib-uh-RIT-ik
Definition
(adjective) Fond of luxury and self-indulgence.
Example
He lived a sybaritic lifestyle, surrounded by velvet robes and vintage wine.
Fun Fact
The word Sybaritic comes from Sybaris, an ancient Greek city infamous for its wealthy, comfort-loving residents. Today, it’s used to describe anyone who chases pleasure and luxury—sometimes with admiration, but often with a hint of critique. It’s a favorite among lifestyle columnists, spa brochures, and Real Housewives recaps.
(adjective) Failing to act or resist; passive and yielding, especially when action is urgently needed.
The board’s supine response to the mounting crisis — endless meetings, no decisions, no accountability — allowed a manageable problem to become a catastrophic one.
Supine derives from the Latin supinus, meaning “lying face upward” or “thrown backward,” rooted in the same base as sub- (“under”). It entered English in the 15th century with both its literal meaning — lying flat on one’s back — and its figurative sense of moral or intellectual passivity. The physical image is the etymology: a person flat on their back, facing the sky, unable or unwilling to rise and meet what’s coming.