vulgarian
/vʌl'geəriən/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A person, especially one who is wealthy, whose behavior, manners, or taste are considered crude, unrefined, or ostentatious. The term often implies a lack of sophistication and a tendency to display wealth in a tasteless or showy way.
Usage
The word "vulgarian" is a noun used to describe a person, typically one with newly acquired wealth, who exhibits coarse or pretentious behavior. It carries a strong negative connotation of criticism and disdain. It is a formal or literary term.
Examples
- The new millionaire was considered a vulgarian by the old-money families for his gaudy mansion and loud parties.
- She dismissed him as a vulgarian after he boasted about the price of his car throughout the dinner.
- The novel satirizes the vulgarian who buys expensive art not from appreciation, but solely for status.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in social commentary to critique the intersection of wealth and poor taste.
- It can be applied more broadly to anyone who is perceived as being ostentatiously crude, not exclusively the wealthy, though the association with wealth is strong.
Variants and Related Words
- Vulgar (adj): Lacking sophistication or good taste; unrefined. This is the adjective from which "vulgarian" is derived.
- He made a vulgar joke.
- Vulgarity (n): The state or quality of being vulgar.
- The vulgarity of the display was shocking.
Synonyms
- Boor: A rough and bad-mannered person.
- Philistine: A person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts.
- Nouveau riche: (French, often used in English) A person who has recently become rich and is perceived as lacking the taste or manners of the established upper class. This is a very close synonym but focuses more on the newness of the wealth.
- Parvenu: A person of obscure origin who has gained wealth or position, often used disparagingly.
Antonyms
- Aristocrat
- Sophisticate
- Connoisseur
Idioms and Phrases
- To be a vulgarian at heart: To have an inherently unrefined or coarse nature, regardless of one's circumstances.
- Despite his education, he remained a vulgarian at heart, always preferring spectacle over substance.
Noun
- a vulgar person (especially someone who makes a vulgar display of wealth)