Philistine

[fil-uh-steen, -stahyn, fi-lis-tin, -teen] / ˈfɪl əˌstin, -ˌstaɪn, fɪˈlɪs tɪn, -tin /

ADJECTIVE

coarse

Synonyms

STRONG

barbarian base common crude foul gross low mean offensive raw ribald rough roughneck vulgarian

WEAK

barbaric boorish brutish cheap churlish crass gruff ill-bred immodest impolite improper impure incult indelicate inelegant loutish lowbred nasty raffish rude tacky tasteless uncivil uncivilized uncouth uncultivated uncultured unpolished unrefined vulgar

Antonyms

STRONG

cultured decent good happy healthy high honest kind moral nice noble pleasing polished polite refined sophisticated

NOUN

boor

Synonyms

STRONG

barbarian bear boob brute buffoon cad churl dork goon lout oaf peasant rube vulgarian yahoo

WEAK

chuff

Antonyms

STRONG

gentleman

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I, on the other hand, remain a philistine and a hayseed.

From Washington Post • Dec. 15, 2022

The issue here, then, may be that I am a philistine.

From New York Times • Mar. 12, 2021

Literature, cinema and theater are seen as beacons of enlightenment in a philistine world.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2020

It ill behoves either him or Bruckner to try to frame this as evidence of a vindictive philistine world.

From The Guardian • Sep. 1, 2019

At first glance classic style sounds naive and philistine, suited only to a world of concrete goings-on.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker