anti-intellectualist
Dismissive of expertise
Anti-intellectualist describes opposition to intellectualism or intellectuals—a suspicion of experts, academics, or abstract thinking in favor of common sense, practical knowledge, or popular opinion.
The stance may be political, religious, or cultural: The campaign's anti-intellectualist rhetoric painted university professors as out of touch.
As a noun, an anti-intellectualist is someone who holds such views.
Doctrine dismissing logical thought
- dogmatismUnyielding adherence to doctrine
- narrow-mindednessClosed thinking, limited perspective
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
incuriosity · closed-mindedness · unreflective · credulous · superstition · misinformation · denialism · conspiracy
Politics favoring ordinary citizens
- LuddismOpposition to new technology
- fundamentalismStrict adherence to core tenets
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
- authoritarianismConcentrated, unchecked governmental power
obscurantism · McCarthyism · reactionary · traditionalism · demagogue · nationalism · chauvinism · jingoism
Scornful disregard
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- contemptDisdainful disregard
- philistinismContempt for cultural refinement
- anti-elitismDistrust of privileged classes
resentment · scorn · derision · dismissiveness · hostility · suspicion · animosity · antagonism
Practical problem-solving philosophy
- commonsensePractical everyday reasoning
- simplicityLack of complexity
- intuitionInstinctive immediate understanding
- traditionCustom passed through generations
folkways · practicality · experience · authenticity · plainspokenness · ordinariness · bootstrap · self-reliance
Higher education community
- ivory-towerSheltered intellectual enclave
- elitesPrivileged powerful groups
- expertsHighly skilled practitioners
- professorsHighest-ranking university instructors
scientists · technocrats · literati · eggheads · academics · scholars · theorists · pundits
irrationalism
Doctrine dismissing logical thought
- dogmatismUnyielding adherence to doctrine
- narrow-mindednessClosed thinking, limited perspective
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
bias · incuriosity · closed-mindedness · unreflective · credulous · superstition · misinformation · denialism · conspiracy · groupthink
populism
Politics favoring ordinary citizens
- LuddismOpposition to new technology
- fundamentalismStrict adherence to core tenets
- nativismPreference for native-born citizens
authoritarianism · obscurantism · McCarthyism · reactionary · traditionalism · demagogue · nationalism · chauvinism · jingoism · sectarianism
disdain
Scornful disregard
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- contemptDisdainful disregard
- philistinismContempt for cultural refinement
anti-elitism · resentment · scorn · derision · dismissiveness · hostility · suspicion · animosity · antagonism · aversion
pragmatism
Practical problem-solving philosophy
- commonsensePractical everyday reasoning
- simplicityLack of complexity
- intuitionInstinctive immediate understanding
tradition · folkways · practicality · experience · authenticity · plainspokenness · ordinariness · bootstrap · self-reliance · earthiness
academia
Higher education community
- ivory-towerSheltered intellectual enclave
- elitesPrivileged powerful groups
- expertsHighly skilled practitioners
professors · scientists · technocrats · literati · eggheads · academics · scholars · theorists · pundits · establishment
anti-intellectualistrationalist
One guided by reason
empiricist · freethinker · critical thinker · knowledge-seeker · skeptic
intellectual, intellectualism, intellect, intellection, intellectually, intellectuals, intelligentsia, intelligence, intelligent