Word info Synonyms

vicarious

Speech parts

1. vicarious - Adjective

2. vicarious - Preposition

3. vicarious - Adjective Satellite

Meaning

Of or pertaining to a vicar, substitute, or deputy; deputed; delegated; as, vicarious power or authority.

Acting of suffering for another; as, a vicarious agent or officer.

Performed of suffered in the place of another; substituted; as, a vicarious sacrifice; vicarious punishment.

Acting as a substitute; -- said of abnormal action which replaces a suppressed normal function; as, vicarious hemorrhage replacing menstruation.

Source: Webster's dictionary

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Examples

The central ideas of Christianity, an angry God and vicarious atonement, are contrary to every fact in nature, as also to the better aspirations of the human heart; they are, in our present stage of enlightenment, absurd, preposterous, and blasphemous propositions. Virchand Gandhi

Every campaign, Garry Wills once wrote, "taught Nixon the same lesson: mobilize resentment against those in power." History taught the same to many conservative and reactionary populist movements, whose real attitude to those in power and authority was one of a servile, envious, vicarious adoration. Christopher Hitchens

Our point isn't to make an examination of popular film but to illustrate that the yearning for a heroic adventure lies just beneath the surface of our consciousness; film, television, literature, sports, and travel are in a sense vicarious adventures. Alan Hirsch

Most of the images of reality on which we base our actions are really based on vicarious experience. Albert Bandura

All action is vicarious faith. Abraham Joshua Heschel

Parents lend children their experience and a vicarious memory; children endow their parents with a vicarious immortality. George Santayana

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