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Simplistic vs Simpler - What's the difference?

simplistic | simpler |

As adjectives the difference between simplistic and simpler

is that simplistic is overly simple while simpler is comparative of simple Less complicated or challenging.

As a noun simpler is

one who grows or gathers simples (medicinal herbs).

simplistic

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Overly simple.
  • In a manner that simplifies a concept or issue so that its nuance and complexity are lost or important details are overlooked.
  • (obsolete) Of or relating to s, or medicinal herbs.
    • (Wilkinson)

    Usage notes

    This is not to be conflated with “simple”. Simplistic implies simplicity that distorts the topic, whereas simple does not. The phrase “overly simplistic” is therefore a tautology.

    See also

    * simplism n. * simplistically adv. * simpleton * simplified

    simpler

    English

    Adjective

    (head)
  • (simple) Less complicated or challenging.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (archaic) One who grows or gathers simples (medicinal herbs).
  • * 1781 , , Miscellanies'', Essay VII, ''On the Linnæan System , page 273:
    • One of the great pleasures in botany is, to produce a rather uncommon plant to those who know it to be curious; but the English botanist will not have much satisfaction in shewing it to a simpler , who is not acquainted with it under the name given by Gerard or Ray.
  • * 1833 , William Hogarth, Anecdotes of William Hogarth: written by himself , page 48:
    • … may with no great impropriety be termed going a simpling; but with this special difference, that your field simpler' never picks up a nettle for a marsh-mallow; a mistake which your tour ' simpler is very liable to.

    Synonyms

    * simplist

    Anagrams

    * * ----