Antonym for “elitist” with a negative connotation?

Question

I’m looking for an adjective to describe, for example, someone who shows disdain for elitism or fine things. Google only gives examples that have positive or neutral connotations.

EDIT: I've accept plebian since it seems to satisfy most of my criteria, although it doesn't imply a disdain for elitism.

I've noticed a lot of submitted words imply simplicity or dullness, but that's not necessarily what I'm going for.

I'd also be interested in learning a word, even if it's not an antonym, that means something like: "to show disdain or contempt for elitism or pretentiousness." Ideally it would have a negative connotation but that is not a necessary constraint.

Answer 1

You might be looking for philistine - definition 2a, in particular:

2a : a person who is guided by materialism and is usually disdainful of intellectual or artistic values

Answer 2

A somewhat slang term is "inverted snob".

a person who makes it known that they do not like things related to high social position but approve of things related to low social position

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/inverted-snob

Answer 3

Given the following definition of elitism from Cambridge Dictionary, emphasising that something is for only a small number of "special" people, I think the opposite could be considered to be populism which is focused on "ordinary people" and not a small or select group.

Elitism

the belief that some things are only for a few people who have special qualities or abilities

Populism

political ideas and activities that are intended to get the support of ordinary people by giving them what they want:

Defintined by dictionary.com:

Populism

3. representation or extolling of the common person, the working class, the underdog, etc

Populism does entail a disdain for elites as you requested; there is certainly a negative connotation to both, which my reading of your question is also what you were requesting.

Answer 4

To add one more option because I feel like the connotation of plebeian is negative in a different way where the "elite" is looking down on people. How about populist? Here, I'd argue the connotation is the appeal to the "masses" often using anti-elite rhetoric and/or deception.

I also firmly disagree with some of the views stated by others that question how you can ask for a negative of a negative or how an antonym can have a positive or negative connotation. Synonyms exist (sort-of, albeit almost never in the strong sense of the word) and an antonym of something can be from a whole group or strongly related but subtly different concepts. And the one that is an opposite of elitist while also carrying a negative connotation is the one the OP asked for.

Answer 5

While it's not a single word, has crab mentality is an established phrase that might fit what you are looking for. It does assume a particular motivation that might or might not fit.

A way of thinking best described by the phrase "if I can't have it, neither can you."

Alternatively, anti-intellectual or anti-intellectualist.

indifferent or hostile to cultural or intellectual ideas

Answer 6

In political terms the derogatory opposite of an elitist might be a mobocrat. See mobocrat. The adjective would be mobocratic.

Answer 7

meat-and-potatoes (adjective, 2 of 3; M-W)

1. of fundamental importance : BASIC
   also : concerned with or emphasizing the basic aspects of something
2. UNPRETENTIOUS, SIMPLE
   a real meat-and-potatoes guy

basic (informal, derogatory; North American; OL&G)

having tastes, interests, or attitudes regarded as mainstream or conventional (typically used of a woman): "if your date orders vegetable tempura you know she is totally basic"

That's what they said. I have nothing against people or food in general.

Answer 8

Try lowbrow (noun)

1. One having uncultivated tastes.
2. Someone or something of low education or culture.
3. a person who is uninterested in intellectual pursuits

Answer 9

If you're looking for a negative term, this isn't it, but egalitarian means "characterized by, or supportive of, equality," or, to quote an actual dictionary, "believing that all people are equally important and should have the same rights and opportunities in life." Someone with egalitarian values would tend not to approve of elitism.

Answer 10

My initial thought was to say uncouth

Defined by Oxford Dictionaries as:

lacking good manners, refinement, or grace.

"he is unwashed, uncouth, and drunk most of the time"

On reflection, I would also suggest using the noun reverse snob:

a person overly proud of being one of or sympathetic to the common people, and who denigrates or shuns those of superior ability, education, social standing, etc

Answer 11

It's a compound word, but you might like anti-intellectual. From Merriam Webster, it can be used as a noun or an adjective, and means:

: opposing or hostile to intellectuals or to an intellectual view or approach

Answer 12

Also good is redneck or hick, but a more literal definition might be to call someone as having "No Class" But iconoclast might be also be correct, though it's modern use is less negative than was originally meant.

Answer 13

I’ve heard of “Cleetus” being used in this context, perhaps “Cleetist” would work?

Or perhaps “Doofus” and “Doofist”?

Answer 14

One could refer to such as "communists", which has negative connotations today almost everywhere except a communist country. In England, they may use an old anglo-saxon term "churl". The correct term to use is, of course, based on the context.