lowbrow 1 of 2

adjective

ˈlō-ˌbrau̇ How to pronounce lowbrow (audio)
Definition of lowbrownext
as in vulgar
lacking in refinement or good taste at office gatherings his lowbrow humor often embarrassed his coworkers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lowbrow

2 of 2

noun

ˈlō-ˌbrau̇ How to pronounce lowbrow (audio)
as in philistine
a person who is chiefly interested in material comfort and is hostile or indifferent to art and culture the town's lowbrows think that the school's music program is a complete waste of taxpayers' money

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of lowbrow
Adjective
The lowbrow horror parody thrives on shtick about weed, race and genitalia. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026 Two decades later, Shuter is using his Substack, Naughty but Nice, to capitalize on the eternal appetite for the sort of outrageously lowbrow material once only found in the pages of gossip rags like the Enquirer. — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 12 May 2026
Noun
Executives at NBCUniversal frame Bravo as a brand that represents a particular type of lowbrow-highbrow reality TV, and that even if the channel vanished, the brand could live on. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Jan. 2026 That balance of high- and lowbrow is absent in The Abandons. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lowbrow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lowbrow
  1. vulgar
  2. clown
  3. crass
  4. rude
  5. common
  6. coarse
Adjective
  • Decide for yourself whether that’s a bold indicator of English football’s superiority over the rest of the world, or a revolting symbol of the bloated and vulgar behemoth that the game has become.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • However, recent scholarship posits that the structure was used as ordinary (rather than punitive) housing, and that the vulgar decor was in fact a distinguishing characteristic of the epoch.
    — Jim Greer, SPIN, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of vulgar
Noun
  • Target recently received backlash for 'offensive' Halloween costume This comes on the heels of Target apologizing in late August for a Halloween circus clown costume that critics said appeared to conjure Blackface and 19th-century minstrel shows.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Cam Schlittler, no stranger to Boston beef, used an emoji to call Flemming a clown on an Instagram post.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of clown
Adjective
  • Murdoch is thick-skinned and accustomed to being underestimated by the condescending Brits, who see him as a crass interloper.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The vulnerability, the crass graffiti, the (lack of) cleanliness, uncomfortable toilet seats—the list of reasons is lengthy.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of crass
Adjective
  • For instance, your colleagues may be very agreeable and kind to their boss but rude to their more junior colleagues, or the cafeteria waiter.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Totally ignoring the humanity of both worker and customer is rude, and yet both parties are interested in getting on with whatever the transaction is.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of rude
Adjective
  • Designed for limp, oily, and dull hair, the color-safe formula washes away stubborn dirt and grime—common culprits of flat waves—while a lineup of amino acids work to soften and strengthen strands.
    — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 5 Sep. 2026
  • And because the loss of brain cells is also a feature of more common conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, the approach may have applications beyond Huntington’s.
    — Claudia Metzler-Baddeley, Scientific American, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of common
Adjective
  • An ideal growing medium consists of one-third perlite or coarse sand and two-thirds sphagnum moss (or coco coir).
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2026
  • There's kosher salt, a coarse salt that comes in grains and flakes – many without additives.
    — Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of coarse

Browse Nearby Words

lowbred
lowbrow
lowbrows
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Cite this Entry

“Lowbrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lowbrow. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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