Definition of lowbrownext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
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 The tension between highbrow and lowbrow comedy, and what is deemed acceptable by image-conscious Black middle-class audiences, continues to ignite fierce debate—nearly a century after Stepin Fetchit first appeared on-screen. Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 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
Adjective
  • Lonnie is loud, obnoxious, and vulgar in ways that rankle traditional golfers.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 July 2026
  • Suki, a vocal Black woman with an at times vulgar persona, whereas Althoff, a white woman, gained a reputation as an awkward, seemingly timid interviewer on her The Really Good Podcast.
    Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026
Noun
  • One morning during my stay, there were even clowns buzzing about—a thrill to receive a balloon poodle alongside my morning flat white.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026
  • This take on the mad clown of Gotham is less Jack Nicholson and George Romero, choosing a more stoic approach inspired by Conrad Veidt silent films and German expressionism.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026
Adjective
  • Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, a crass and charismatic oil executive who’s called upon to help save the world after his company nearly destroys it.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 13 July 2026
  • Like a more crass, animated Seinfeld, Rocko deals with the mundanities and absurdities of daily life.
    Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026
Adjective
  • In the nearly 90-second recording, Varela calls the customer service representative lazy, rude and racist and asks her for her name tag.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
  • Posey can deliver an absurd line with such conviction that arguing with her would seem rude.
    Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Adjective
  • Accidents are common on climbing expeditions in northern Pakistan because of avalanches, falling ice and rock, high altitude and rapidly changing weather.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Of the seven expense categories tracked — including housing, medical costs and education — cellphone bills were the most common expense paid by someone else.
    Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • After drying, stick the cuttings into small pots filled with coarse potting soil to ensure proper drainage.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 17 July 2026
  • Emily Young, a spokesperson for the Lake County Health Department, said in an email that there are fine particulates and coarse particulates.
    Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Adjective
  • The Africa Corps fights alongside the Malian army and has been accused of gross human rights violations.
    ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
  • The operator would get a $400,000 annual base fee, as well as incentive fees equal to 7% of gross revenues and food and beverage sales, and 15% of revenue from sponsorships and premium seating, according to the underlying city legislation.
    Tess Riski July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lowbrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lowbrow. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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