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pabulum

Intermediate (B1)

IPA: /ˈpæb.jə.ləm/

KK: /ˈpæbələm/

noun
Definition

A substance that provides nourishment or food, often used to describe something that is bland or lacking in substance.


Example

The lecture was criticized for being mere pabulum, offering no real insights into the topic.


Conversation
Sloth A
Have you ever noticed how some movies feel like complete pabulum?
Sloth B
Totally! They just feed you the same old clichés without any real substance.
Sloth A
Right? I prefer films that challenge my thinking instead of just serving up bland pabulum.
Sloth B
Me too! It's nice to watch something that really makes you ponder.

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
nourishment
sustenance
food
Antonyms
poison
malnutrition
deprivation
Root Explanation

Pabulum is derived from the Latin word "pabulum" (meaning food or fodder). It refers to nourishment or sustenance, particularly in a metaphorical sense, as in ideas or information that nourish the mind.

Memory Tip

Think of 'pabulum' as something that provides 'nourishment' — just like food nourishes the body, pabulum nourishes the mind with ideas.

Visually Confused Words
sabulum
piaculum
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