anti-intellectual
Hostile toward learning
Anti-intellectual describes hostility toward or distrust of intellectuals, academic expertise, or complex thinking.
The stance often dismisses educated opinion as elitist or out of touch: The campaign took an anti-intellectual turn, mocking experts and scientists.
As a noun, an anti-intellectual is someone who holds such views.
The attitude can reflect genuine populist skepticism or calculated political strategy.
Politically-motivated accusation without evidence
- book-burningDeliberate destruction of texts
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
obscurantism · fundamentalism · totalitarianism · authoritarianism · illiberalism · demagogy · purges · blacklisting
Stripping complexity unfairly
- dumbing-downReducing intellectual content
- sloganMemorable promotional phrase
- talking-pointsScripted positions for interviews
- reductiveOversimplifying complex matters
crude · shallow · superficial · truthy · post-truth · misinformation · disinformation · fearmongering
Contempt for cultural refinement
- incuriosityAbsence of inquisitiveness
- anti-elitismDistrust of privileged classes
- dismissivenessAttitude of casual disregard
- closed-mindednessRefusal to consider other views
smugness · complacency · indifference · apathy · practicality · utilitarianism · mundanity · superficiality
Disdainful disregard
- disdainScornful disregard
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
animosity · antagonism · sneering · mockery · ridicule · suspicion · distrust · enmity
Professional researchers and teachers
- professorsHighest-ranking university instructors
- scientistsSystematic knowledge seekers
- expertsHighly skilled practitioners
- intellectualsPeople of scholarly pursuits
scholars · researchers · universities · ivory-tower · eggheads · nerds · bookworms · literati
Manipulative populist leader
- rabble-rouserOne who stirs dissent
- agitatorOne who foments discord
- common-senseBasic good judgment
- everymanOrdinary representative person
grassroots · majoritarianism · nativism · nationalism · elites · ivory-tower · heartland · working-class
McCarthyism
Politically-motivated accusation without evidence
- book-burningDeliberate destruction of texts
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
- propagandaBiased information for influence
indoctrination · obscurantism · fundamentalism · totalitarianism · authoritarianism · illiberalism · demagogy · purges · blacklisting · anti-science
oversimplification
Stripping complexity unfairly
- dumbing-downReducing intellectual content
- sloganMemorable promotional phrase
- talking-pointsScripted positions for interviews
reductive · crude · shallow · superficial · truthy · post-truth · misinformation · disinformation · fearmongering · scapegoating
philistinism
Contempt for cultural refinement
- incuriosityAbsence of inquisitiveness
- anti-elitismDistrust of privileged classes
- dismissivenessAttitude of casual disregard
closed-mindedness · smugness · complacency · indifference · apathy · practicality · utilitarianism · mundanity · superficiality · conformity
contempt
Disdainful disregard
resentment · animosity · antagonism · sneering · mockery · ridicule · suspicion · distrust · enmity · backlash
academics
Professional researchers and teachers
- professorsHighest-ranking university instructors
- scientistsSystematic knowledge seekers
- expertsHighly skilled practitioners
intellectuals · scholars · researchers · universities · ivory-tower · eggheads · nerds · bookworms · literati · technocrats
demagogue
Manipulative populist leader
- rabble-rouserOne who stirs dissent
- agitatorOne who foments discord
- common-senseBasic good judgment
everyman · grassroots · majoritarianism · nativism · nationalism · elites · ivory-tower · heartland · working-class
anti-intellectualtechnocratic
Favoring governance by specialists
meritocratic · elitist · rationalist · evidence-based · Enlightenment values
anti-intellectualhighbrow
Intellectually or artistically sophisticated
elitist · ivory-tower · cosmopolitan · cultured · sophisticated
intelligent, intelligence, intellectual, intellect, intelligently, intelligentsia, intellectualism, intellectualize, intellectuality