parvenu
Uncouth new millionaire
A parvenu is someone who has recently gained wealth or status but lacks the social graces or acceptance of established elites.
The term carries disdain—old money looking down on new money, aristocrats sneering at the self-made.
The old families considered him a parvenu despite his millions.
Unlike "upstart," which emphasizes pushiness, parvenu emphasizes not belonging.
One who enters uninvited
- intruderUnauthorized person present
- gatecrasherUninvited event attendee
- trespasserUnlawful entrant on property
- infiltratorOne who enters covertly
encroacher · usurper · invader · Johnny-come-lately · unwelcome · uninvited · out-of-place · fish-out-of-water
One who scales
- striverOne who works diligently
- up-and-comerPromising newcomer gaining ground
- self-madeSuccessful through own efforts
- gate-crasherUninvited event attendee
name-dropper · aspirant · go-getter · ambitious · overreacher · pushy · opportunist · risen
Showy, often tastelessly so
- ostentatiousShowily excessive
- gaudyTastelessly ornate
- showyExcessively eye-catching
- garishTastelessly showy
vulgar · tasteless · bling · conspicuous · extravagant · lavish · opulent · gilded
Artificially contrived behavior
- airsPretentious behavioral displays
- snobberyPretentious social superiority
- pomposityExaggerated sense of importance
- affectationArtificial behavior for effect
hauteur · posturing · pretense · self-important · grandiose · uppity · lofty · haughty
Person of noble birth
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- patricianHighborn Roman elite
- pedigreeRecord of descent
lineage · hereditary · establishment · gentry · breeding · refinement · gentility · proper
Wealthy business leader
- tycoonDominant industrial leader
- plutocratRuler through wealth
- moneyedHaving substantial wealth
- flushSame suit, five cards
affluent · enriched · prosperous · fortune · windfall · loaded · well-heeled · rags-to-riches
interloper
One who enters uninvited
- intruderUnauthorized person present
- gatecrasherUninvited event attendee
- trespasserUnlawful entrant on property
infiltrator · encroacher · usurper · invader · Johnny-come-lately · unwelcome · uninvited · out-of-place · fish-out-of-water · misfit
climber
One who scales
- striverOne who works diligently
- up-and-comerPromising newcomer gaining ground
- self-madeSuccessful through own efforts
gate-crasher · name-dropper · aspirant · go-getter · ambitious · overreacher · pushy · opportunist · risen · elevated
flashy
Showy, often tastelessly so
- ostentatiousShowily excessive
- gaudyTastelessly ornate
- showyExcessively eye-catching
garish · vulgar · tasteless · bling · conspicuous · extravagant · lavish · opulent · gilded · ornate
affected
Artificially contrived behavior
- airsPretentious behavioral displays
- snobberyPretentious social superiority
- pomposityExaggerated sense of importance
affectation · hauteur · posturing · pretense · self-important · grandiose · uppity · lofty · haughty · conceited
blueblood
Person of noble birth
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- patricianHighborn Roman elite
pedigree · lineage · hereditary · establishment · gentry · breeding · refinement · gentility · proper · cultured
magnate
Wealthy business leader
flush · affluent · enriched · prosperous · fortune · windfall · loaded · well-heeled · rags-to-riches
- snobssnob, elitist, snoot, prig, highbrow
- showoffsshowoff, show-off, braggart, bragger, boaster
- social classupper class, middle class, lower class, working class, social class
- class labelsaristocrat, beggar, bourgeois, commoner, elite
parvenuaristocrat
Person of noble birth
blueblood · patrician · old money · blue blood · to the manor born
parvenuunpretentious
Lacking false superiority
unassuming · understated · modest · self-effacing · humble