5 Signs Someone Is Faking Their Intelligence

Have you ever met someone who could fake their intelligence to fool everyone? They dazzle others with big words and lofty ideas, convincing everyone of their vast brainpower, but eventually, it all turns out to be a ruse, leaving you none the wiser. They’re called pseudo-intellectuals, where “pseudo” means “false” and “intellectual” means “an intelligent person.” How can we spot pseudointellectuals before we get sucked into their false persona?

Let’s jump into five signs someone is faking their intelligence!

Disclaimer: This list is based on personal experience and is not meant to be a professional diagnosis. If you recognize these traits in yourself, please do not take this as a personal attack.

Make sure to read until the end if you also want to know five genuine signs of intelligence no one can fake!

1) They overuse and misuse advanced vocabulary

Do you know someone who sounds like a walking thesaurus? Pseudointellectuals always feel the need to inject the longest words and most advanced phrases into every conversation, even when it’s unnecessary. Instead of inviting you to lunch, they “entreat” you to “partake” in the “midday sustenance ritual.” A pseudointellectual uses language as a tool for intimidation and self-gain, so when you ask them to explain, they respond with a self-satisfied smirk or personal insult. Even worse, they often use the wrong pronunciation or meaning for their advanced phrases, because they care more about showing off than really understanding what they’re saying. On the other hand, people with genuine intelligence value clear communication so they only use advanced vocabulary when it’s appropriate, and they are always happy to explain themselves.

2) They brag about their intelligence all the time

Do you know someone who won’t stop talking about their own intelligence? Their self-proclaimed genius is the only part of their personal identity and they don’t hesitate to let everyone know about it, all the time! They constantly brag about their intellectual hobbies for no reason, complain about how their high intelligence is somehow a curse, or accuse all of society of being ignorant and tasteless. They take every opportunity to compare themselves to others and proclaim how they are oh-so-mentally-superior. On the other hand, people with genuine intelligence are comfortable with their mental abilities so they don’t waste time constantly convincing everyone else.

3) They always repeat profound quotes

Do you know someone who is a fountain of quotations? For every occasion, they can cite a profound saying from a high level thinker. Talk about family and they will cite Confucius; talk about school detention and they will cite Kafka; talk about pop music and they will cite Adorno. It sounds quite intelligent at first, but upon deeper examination, the quotes aren’t always valuable or even relevant to the conversation. Pseudointellectuals often exploit the credentials of past thinkers as a smokescreen to appear knowledgeable, rather than having any original ideas of their own. On the other hand, people with genuine intelligence drop big quotes only to contribute real value to the discussion, rather than just showing off the big names they know.

4) They derail conversations with pointless intellectual questions

Do you know someone who can’t stick to the point of a conversation without turning it into a grand intellectual argument? No matter how casual a discussion is, a pseudointellectual always finds a way to hijack it by asking provocative but pointless questions. They might ask highly abstract questions that nobody can answer, so if you say that you had a good day, they might ask, “what does it really mean to enjoy life?” They also might ask pedantic questions to undermine you, so if you say that chocolate is a popular ice cream flavor, they might ask, “do you have any qualitative research data to support that assertion?” On the other hand, people with genuine intelligence ask deep questions to make a meaningful contribution, indulge their curiosity or further the main point of the discussion.

5) They act like they have everything figured out

Do you know someone who claims to have the final answer about how the world works? Pseudointellectuals often have very rigid and contrarian beliefs about society, politics, religion, education or art without any nuances. If you have a different opinion, they won’t be open to a genuine discussion, they’ll simply state that you’re wrong, insult your intelligence, inflate their own credentials or claim that their viewpoint is too obvious to explain. On the other hand, people with genuine intelligence are open minded and they know that the world has no simple answers, so they are always learning new ideas and perspectives.

Have you ever seen the traits mentioned in this list? If you made it to the end, drop a smirking smartass emoji (😏) in the comments below or let us know what you think! And don’t forget to like and share this if you think it will help someone else.

If you’re interested in more about intelligence, check out five genuine signs of intelligence no one can fake!