antiestablishment
adjective
an·ti·es·tab·lish·ment
ˌan-tē-i-ˈsta-blish-mənt 
ˌan-tī-
: opposed or hostile to the social, economic, and political principles of a ruling class (as of a nation) : opposed to the establishment
The first is the effect of the antiestablishment protests of the 1960s and early 1970s in making people aware of the potential of mass action.—
Daniel Nelson
Daniel Nelson
Examples of antiestablishment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
They have been weakened by rising antiestablishment beliefs on the left and the right, notably among younger voters, and by the sentiment that parties are not as essential to ideas or governing anymore.
—Adam Nagourney, BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2020
That evolved into a mini-conference series featuring antiestablishment scientists that support Glassman’s views on health care.
—Tessa Love, Outside Online, 16 Jan. 2020
The protests show no sign of ending despite the overwhelming victory by antiestablishment candidates in elections for district representatives earlier this month.
—SFChronicle.com, 25 Dec. 2019
If none of this sounds particularly in keeping with Roodt’s antiestablishment dream—government laws swapped for corporate terms of service—that’s true.
—Gregory Barber, WIRED, 6 June 2019
The antiestablishment mood that displayed itself in 2016 with Donald Trump’s election as U.S. president and the U.K.’s referendum vote to leave the European Union continued to shake up the political order on both sides of the Atlantic in 2018.
—WSJ, 17 Dec. 2018
Also weighing on yields were concerns about plans by the antiestablishment government in Italy to boost fiscal spending by increasing borrowing to fund a larger budget deficit.
—Daniel Kruger, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2018
Quickly rising to become part of London fashion’s antiestablishment establishment, his 1995 London Fashion Week show received the ultimate Establishment hat tip: It was attended by Diana, Princess of Wales.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2019
At the extremes of the political spectrum, antiestablishment parties on the far right and far left are expected to gain at least a third of seats in the new European Parliament, according to Poll of Polls, an EU opinion polls aggregator.
—Valentina Pop, WSJ, 8 Nov. 2018
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Adam Nagourney, BostonGlobe.com, 4 May 2020
That evolved into a mini-conference series featuring antiestablishment scientists that support Glassman’s views on health care.
—Tessa Love, Outside Online, 16 Jan. 2020
The protests show no sign of ending despite the overwhelming victory by antiestablishment candidates in elections for district representatives earlier this month.
—SFChronicle.com, 25 Dec. 2019
If none of this sounds particularly in keeping with Roodt’s antiestablishment dream—government laws swapped for corporate terms of service—that’s true.
—Gregory Barber, WIRED, 6 June 2019
The antiestablishment mood that displayed itself in 2016 with Donald Trump’s election as U.S. president and the U.K.’s referendum vote to leave the European Union continued to shake up the political order on both sides of the Atlantic in 2018.
—WSJ, 17 Dec. 2018
Also weighing on yields were concerns about plans by the antiestablishment government in Italy to boost fiscal spending by increasing borrowing to fund a larger budget deficit.
—Daniel Kruger, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2018
Quickly rising to become part of London fashion’s antiestablishment establishment, his 1995 London Fashion Week show received the ultimate Establishment hat tip: It was attended by Diana, Princess of Wales.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2019
At the extremes of the political spectrum, antiestablishment parties on the far right and far left are expected to gain at least a third of seats in the new European Parliament, according to Poll of Polls, an EU opinion polls aggregator.
—Valentina Pop, WSJ, 8 Nov. 2018
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'antiestablishment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1956, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of antiestablishment was
in 1956
Dictionary Entries Near antiestablishment
Cite this Entry
“Antiestablishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antiestablishment. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
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