We all know those people who think they’re the smartest person in the room, but in reality, they’re about as sharp as a bowling ball.
They might try to impress you with their big words and fancy degrees, but if you look closely, you’ll see that their so-called intelligence is nothing more than a flimsy facade. Here are 18 ways that people show they’re not as smart as they think they are.
1. They constantly interrupt people.
If someone is always cutting you off mid-sentence to interject their own thoughts and opinions, it’s a pretty clear sign that they’re not as smart as they think they are. Intelligent people know the value of active listening and letting people finish their thoughts before chiming in. Cutting people off all the time just shows that you’re more interested in hearing yourself talk than actually learning from those around you.
2. They use big words unnecessarily.
Source: Unsplash Using fancy vocabulary might make you sound smart in the moment, but if you’re doing it just for the sake of showing off, it’s a clear indication that you’re overcompensating for something. Truly intelligent people know how to communicate their ideas clearly and concisely, without resorting to unnecessary jargon or obscure words. If someone is constantly throwing around big words that don’t add anything to the conversation, it’s a pretty good sign that they’re trying too hard to seem smart.
3. They refuse to admit when they’re wrong.
One of the hallmarks of true intelligence is the ability to admit when you’re wrong and learn from your mistakes. If someone is constantly doubling down on their arguments and refusing to acknowledge when they’ve made an error, it’s a clear sign that their ego is getting in the way of their ability to learn and grow. Intelligent people are humble enough to admit when they’re wrong and use it as an opportunity to expand their knowledge.
4. They make sweeping generalisations.
Source: Unsplash Making broad, sweeping statements about more complex topics proves that you don’t really know what you’re talking about. Intelligent people understand that the world is full of nuance and that most issues can’t be boiled down to simple black-and-white statements. If someone is constantly making generalisations about entire groups of people or topics they clearly don’t understand, it’s a pretty good indication that their knowledge is only skin-deep.
5. They talk a whole lot more than they listen.
Source: Unsplash If someone is constantly dominating conversations and talking over people, it’s a clear sign that they’re more interested in hearing themselves talk than actually learning from those around them. Intelligent people understand the value of active listening and know that they can learn something from everyone they meet. If someone is always the loudest voice in the room, it’s a pretty good indication that they’re not as smart as they think they are.
6. They dismiss other people’s opinions.
Source: Unsplash If someone is constantly dismissing or belittling other people’s opinions, it’s a clear sign that they’re not as open-minded or intelligent as they think they are. Truly smart people understand that everyone has something valuable to contribute and that different perspectives can enrich our understanding of the world. If someone is always shutting down ideas that don’t align with their own, it’s a pretty good indication that their intelligence is limited by their own narrow-mindedness.
7. They brag about their accomplishments.
Source: Unsplash If someone is constantly bragging about their own accomplishments and trying to one-up everyone around them, it’s a clear sign that they’re not as confident in their own abilities as they’d like you to believe. Truly intelligent people let their work speak for itself and don’t feel the need to constantly remind everyone of how great they are. If someone is always tooting their own horn, it’s a pretty good indication that they’re overcompensating for something.
8. They use jargon to sound smart.
Source: Unsplash Using industry-specific jargon might make you sound like an expert in your field, but if you’re doing it just to show off, it’s a clear sign that you’re not as knowledgeable as you think you are. Truly intelligent people know how to communicate their ideas in a way that’s accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or expertise. If someone is constantly throwing around buzzwords and technical terms without actually explaining what they mean, it’s a pretty good indication that they’re more concerned with sounding smart than actually being smart.
9. They don’t ask questions.
Source: Unsplash If someone never asks questions or seems uninterested in learning more about a topic, it’s a clear sign that they’re not as curious or intelligent as they think they are. Truly smart people are always eager to learn more and aren’t afraid to admit when they don’t know something. If someone is constantly acting like they have all the answers and never bothers to ask for more information, it’s a pretty good indication that their intelligence is limited by their own arrogance.
10. They dismiss feedback and criticism.
Source: Unsplash If someone is constantly dismissing feedback and criticism, it’s a clear sign that they’re not as open to growth and improvement as they think they are. Truly intelligent people understand that constructive criticism is an opportunity to learn and get better, and they actively ask for feedback. If someone is always getting defensive and dismissing any suggestions for improvement, it’s a pretty good indication that their ego is getting in the way of their ability to learn and grow.
11. They try to impress with name-dropping.
Source: Unsplash If someone is constantly name-dropping and trying to impress you with the people they know or the places they’ve been, it’s a clear sign that they’re not as confident in their own abilities as they’d like you to believe. Truly intelligent people don’t need to rely on other people’s accomplishments to prove their worth. If someone is always trying to name-drop their way to credibility, it’s a pretty good indication that they don’t have much of their own to offer.
12. They don’t read or engage with new ideas.
Source: Unsplash If someone never seems to read or engage with new ideas outside of their own narrow field of interest, it’s a clear sign that they’re not as intellectually curious as they think they are. Truly intelligent people are always looking for new knowledge and perspectives, even if it challenges their existing beliefs. If someone is constantly dismissing new ideas and refusing to engage with anything outside of their comfort zone, it’s a pretty good indication that their intelligence is limited by their own close-mindedness.
13. They use logical fallacies in arguments.
Source: Unsplash If someone is constantly resorting to logical fallacies like ad hominem attacks or straw man arguments in debates, it’s a clear sign that they’re not as skilled at critical thinking as they think they are. Truly intelligent people know how to construct a logical, evidence-based argument without resorting to cheap rhetorical tricks. If someone is always relying on logical fallacies to make their point, it’s a pretty good indication that their reasoning skills are not as strong as they’d like you to believe.
14. They don’t admit when they don’t know something.
Source: Unsplash If someone is always pretending to know more than they actually do and refusing to admit when they’re out of their depth, it’s a clear sign that they’re not as intellectually humble as they think they are. Truly intelligent people are comfortable admitting when they don’t know something and are always eager to learn more. If someone is constantly bluffing their way through conversations and pretending to be an expert on topics they clearly don’t understand, it’s a pretty good indication that their intelligence is more of a facade than a reality.
15. They dismiss entire fields of study.
Source: Unsplash If someone is constantly dismissing entire fields of study or areas of expertise as unimportant or irrelevant, it’s a clear sign that they’re not as open-minded or well-rounded as they think they are. Truly intelligent people understand that all areas of knowledge have value and that we can learn something from every discipline. If someone is always dismissing certain subjects as a waste of time or beneath their notice, it’s a pretty good indication that their own knowledge and interests are quite narrow and limited.
16. They don’t consider other perspectives.
Source: Unsplash If someone is always convinced that their own perspective is the only valid one and refuses to consider other viewpoints, it’s a clear sign that they’re not as intellectually flexible as they think they are. Truly intelligent people are always willing to consider multiple perspectives and are open to changing their minds when presented with new evidence or arguments. If someone is constantly shutting down dissenting opinions and refusing to engage with alternative viewpoints, it’s a pretty good indication that their own thinking is quite rigid and inflexible.
17. They don’t apply their knowledge to real-world situations.
Source: Unsplash If someone is always spouting off facts and figures but never seems to apply their knowledge to real-world situations or problems, it’s a clear sign that their intelligence is more theoretical than practical. Truly intelligent people know how to use their knowledge to solve problems and make a difference in the world. If someone is constantly showing off their book smarts but never actually putting their knowledge to use, it’s a pretty good indication that their intelligence is more for show than for practical application.
18. They don’t learn from their mistakes.
If someone is constantly making the same mistakes over and over again and never seems to learn from them, it’s a clear sign that they’re not as self-aware or adaptable as they think they are. Truly intelligent people are always looking for ways to improve and grow, and they see mistakes as opportunities for learning and self-reflection. If someone is constantly repeating the same patterns of behaviour and never seeming to learn from their missteps, it’s a pretty good indication that their intelligence is not translating into personal growth or development.
