elitists
Self-appointed superior class
Elitists are people who believe certain individuals deserve special treatment or influence based on superior ability, wealth, education, or taste.
The term is almost always disparaging, suggesting someone who looks down on ordinary people or dismisses popular preferences: Those elitists in Washington don't understand real Americans.
Politicians frequently deploy the accusation against opponents regardless of actual class background.
Wealthy few who govern
- plutocratsRulers through financial power
- kingmakersThose who decide leadership
- magnatesWealthy, powerful industrialists
- tycoonsPowerful business leaders
lobbyists · donor class · ruling class · establishment · movers and shakers · decision-makers · shadowy figures · behind-the-scenes
Sheltered intellectual enclave
- highbrowIntellectually or artistically sophisticated
- literatiEducated, cultured class
- intelligentsiaEducated, intellectual class
- cognoscentiKnowledgeable insiders of a field
tastemakers · avant-garde · connoisseurs · critics · aesthetes · pedantic · credentialism · Ivy League
Superior and dismissive manner
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
- patronizingTreating someone as inferior
- disdainfulShowing open contempt
- superciliousArrogantly contemptuous of others
contemptuous · pompous · pretentious · nose-in-the-air · sneering · stuck-up · hoity-toity · high-and-mighty
Titled ruling class
- bluebloodsHereditary upper class
- patriciansHereditary ruling class
- peerageSystem of noble ranks
- aristocratsHereditary ruling class
landed gentry · old money · royalty · upper crust · high-born · titled · noble houses · social register
Restricted to enrolled participants
- gated communitiesEnclosed neighborhoods with controlled access
- VIP accessPrivileged entry for notables
- private clubsRestricted-membership social groups
- country clubsExclusive membership venues
inner circles · old boys network · ivory tower · cliquish · insular · closed ranks · velvet rope · selectivity
Having rightful claim
- affluentHaving abundant financial resources
- wealthyHaving abundant financial resources
- silver spoonSymbol of inherited wealth
- trust fundAssets held for another
nepotism · well-connected · advantaged · pampered · sheltered · oblivious · tone-deaf · bourgeoisie
oligarchs
Wealthy few who govern
- plutocratsRulers through financial power
- kingmakersThose who decide leadership
- magnatesWealthy, powerful industrialists
tycoons · lobbyists · donor class · ruling class · establishment · movers and shakers · decision-makers · shadowy figures · behind-the-scenes · technocrats
ivory tower
Sheltered intellectual enclave
- highbrowIntellectually or artistically sophisticated
- literatiEducated, cultured class
- intelligentsiaEducated, intellectual class
cognoscenti · tastemakers · avant-garde · connoisseurs · critics · aesthetes · pedantic · credentialism · Ivy League · out of touch
condescending
Superior and dismissive manner
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
- patronizingTreating someone as inferior
- disdainfulShowing open contempt
supercilious · contemptuous · pompous · pretentious · nose-in-the-air · sneering · stuck-up · hoity-toity · high-and-mighty · self-important
nobility
Titled ruling class
- bluebloodsHereditary upper class
- patriciansHereditary ruling class
- peerageSystem of noble ranks
aristocrats · landed gentry · old money · royalty · upper crust · high-born · titled · noble houses · social register · pedigree
members-only
Restricted to enrolled participants
- gated communitiesEnclosed neighborhoods with controlled access
- VIP accessPrivileged entry for notables
- private clubsRestricted-membership social groups
country clubs · inner circles · old boys network · ivory tower · cliquish · insular · closed ranks · velvet rope · selectivity · gatekeeping
entitled
Having rightful claim
- affluentHaving abundant financial resources
- wealthyHaving abundant financial resources
- silver spoonSymbol of inherited wealth
trust fund · nepotism · well-connected · advantaged · pampered · sheltered · oblivious · tone-deaf · bourgeoisie · one-percenters
- believersbeliever, believers, adherent, devotee, theist
- show-offsbraggarts, boasters, showboats, grandstanders, egotists
- bigotsbigot, bigots, racist, racists, sexist
- intelligentsiaintellectuals, professors, intelligentsia, academics, philosophers
- Political Groupsfaction, Republican Party, caucus, Democratic Party, wing
elitistsegalitarians
Advocates for equal rights
equalitarians · populists · levelers · democrats · communitarians
elitistspopulists
Champions of ordinary citizens
lowbrows · men of the people · philistines · everyman · common folk
elitistscommon people
Non-elite members of society
man of the people · the masses · proletarians · plebeians · salt of the earth
- elitist attitudeSense of inherent superiority