anti-intellectual
adjective
an·ti-in·tel·lec·tu·al
ˌan-tē-ˌin-tə-ˈlek-ch(ə-w)əl 
-ˈlek-shwəl,
ˌan-tī-
: opposing or hostile to intellectuals or to an intellectual view or approach
anti-intellectual
noun
Examples of anti-intellectual in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lisa develops a crush on him, fueled mainly by her realization that Bergstrom’s sensitivity and love of learning fill needs that her often brutish and anti-intellectual dad isn’t equipped to handle.
—
Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
Americans who hold anti-intellectual views were more resistant to vaccinating against COVID in the early days of the pandemic; more likely to believe that climate change is not human-caused; and more likely to express misperceptions about macroeconomic performance.
—Matt Motta, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2024
Surprisingly, his American educational background did not cost him politically during Mao Zedong’s many anti-American and anti-intellectual campaigns.
—David Shambaugh, Foreign Affairs, 30 Nov. 2022
As the Cultural Revolution tears through China, young scientist Ye Wenjie (Zine Tseng) watches a mob beat her father to death in an anti-intellectual frenzy.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024
On and on the anti-intellectual drivel goes, parroted by scores more of MAGA Media personalities who spend their days peddling junk to their audiences.
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 30 Jan. 2024
That puts Disney, a reputable brand that aims to be as inoffensive as possible, in the company of Fox News, the only other major television broadcaster that comes to mind that allows for the irresponsible and unchecked airing of such anti-intellectual drivel.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2024
And his attacks on science and education form part of a troubling anti-intellectual, right-wing populism that threatens liberal democracies worldwide.
—Eric D. Carter, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2023
But as the historian Richard Hofstadter noted at the time, the United States has long nurtured a powerful anti-intellectual strain—one that reached an especially vicious apotheosis during the 1950s.
—Beverly Gage, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
Americans who hold anti-intellectual views were more resistant to vaccinating against COVID in the early days of the pandemic; more likely to believe that climate change is not human-caused; and more likely to express misperceptions about macroeconomic performance.
—Matt Motta, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2024
Surprisingly, his American educational background did not cost him politically during Mao Zedong’s many anti-American and anti-intellectual campaigns.
—David Shambaugh, Foreign Affairs, 30 Nov. 2022
As the Cultural Revolution tears through China, young scientist Ye Wenjie (Zine Tseng) watches a mob beat her father to death in an anti-intellectual frenzy.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024
On and on the anti-intellectual drivel goes, parroted by scores more of MAGA Media personalities who spend their days peddling junk to their audiences.
—Oliver Darcy, CNN, 30 Jan. 2024
That puts Disney, a reputable brand that aims to be as inoffensive as possible, in the company of Fox News, the only other major television broadcaster that comes to mind that allows for the irresponsible and unchecked airing of such anti-intellectual drivel.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2024
And his attacks on science and education form part of a troubling anti-intellectual, right-wing populism that threatens liberal democracies worldwide.
—Eric D. Carter, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2023
But as the historian Richard Hofstadter noted at the time, the United States has long nurtured a powerful anti-intellectual strain—one that reached an especially vicious apotheosis during the 1950s.
—Beverly Gage, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021
Dictionary Entries Near anti-intellectual
Cite this Entry
“Anti-intellectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anti-intellectual. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share