individualistic
Going one's way
Individualistic describes a tendency to prioritize personal independence, self-reliance, and individual expression over group conformity or collective goals.
An individualistic culture values personal achievement; an individualistic approach follows one's own path rather than established conventions.
The word can be neutral or carry a slight edge suggesting selfishness: His individualistic streak made him a poor team player.
Able to provide independently
- autonomousSelf-directed and free
- self-sufficientAble to provide independently
- self-directedManaging oneself without supervision
- independentFree from external control
resourceful · self-supporting · bootstrapping · self-standing · unaided · unassisted · empowered · capable
Independent-minded rule-breaker
- iconoclastAttacker of cherished beliefs
- rebelAuthority defier
- contrarianChronic majority-opposer
- dissenterOpponent of orthodoxy
eccentric · bohemian · outsider · renegade · freethinker · lone wolf · marcher · unorthodox
Readily identifiable, set apart
- idiosyncraticDistinctively individual in nature
- singularOne in number
- originalFirst or inventive
- peculiarStrangely unusual
quirky · one-of-a-kind · personal · uncommon · atypical · unconventional · novel · exceptional
Of Euro-American civilization
- AmericanFrom the U.S.
- self-expressionConveying one's inner world
- personal freedomControl over one's life
- meritocracyAdvancement through demonstrated ability
entrepreneurial · competitive · private · nuclear family · self-actualization · personal space · solo · single-minded
Minimal-government political philosophy
- objectivismBelief in external truths
- existentialismPhilosophy stressing self-created meaning
- egoismDoctrine of self-motivation
- anarchismPhilosophy rejecting state authority
atomism · laissez-faire · self-ownership · voluntarism · classical liberalism · personalism · subjectivism
self-reliant
Able to provide independently
- autonomousSelf-directed and free
- self-sufficientAble to provide independently
- self-directedManaging oneself without supervision
independent · resourceful · self-supporting · bootstrapping · self-standing · unaided · unassisted · empowered · capable · determined
maverick
Independent-minded rule-breaker
- iconoclastAttacker of cherished beliefs
- rebelAuthority defier
- contrarianChronic majority-opposer
dissenter · eccentric · bohemian · outsider · renegade · freethinker · lone wolf · marcher · unorthodox · deviant
distinctive
Readily identifiable, set apart
- idiosyncraticDistinctively individual in nature
- singularOne in number
- originalFirst or inventive
peculiar · quirky · one-of-a-kind · personal · uncommon · atypical · unconventional · novel · exceptional · creative
Western
Of Euro-American civilization
- AmericanFrom the U.S.
- self-expressionConveying one's inner world
- personal freedomControl over one's life
meritocracy · entrepreneurial · competitive · private · nuclear family · self-actualization · personal space · solo · single-minded · go-it-alone
libertarianism
Minimal-government political philosophy
- objectivismBelief in external truths
- existentialismPhilosophy stressing self-created meaning
- egoismDoctrine of self-motivation
anarchism · atomism · laissez-faire · self-ownership · voluntarism · classical liberalism · personalism · subjectivism
individualisticcollectivist
Advocate for group primacy
communal · collective · communitarian · tribal · cooperative
individualisticconformist
One following accepted norms
conventional · commonplace · banal · common · orthodox
individualisticsocialist
Proponent of collective ownership
socialistic · collectivist · communist · communistic · Marxist
- rugged individualistSelf-reliant, tough-minded person