populist
3 antonyms and opposites of populist, grouped by meaning.
Adjective — Appealing to ordinary people by presenting politics as a struggle between the honest public and a corrupt or out-of-touch elite.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Appealing to ordinary people by presenting politics as a struggle between the honest public and a corrupt or out-of-touch elite.
“He ran a populist campaign against the banks and the media.”
Opposites
2. adjective
Designed to be liked by a wide general audience rather than by critics or experts.
“It was a populist programme of blockbusters and singalongs.”
Opposites
Antonyms
How to Use Populist
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Usually mildly critical in journalism, though people described this way often embrace the label. It describes a style of politics, not a position on the left-right spectrum.
Etymology
From Latin populus, "the people", via the political movements of the late 19th century that took the name.
Full origin of populist →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between populist and popular?
Popular simply means widely liked. Populist describes a political approach built on siding with ordinary people against an elite. A populist leader may be deeply unpopular, and plenty of popular policies have nothing populist about them.
Can populism be left-wing as well as right-wing?
Yes. Populism is a style rather than an ideology, and it has appeared across the spectrum — from left-wing movements targeting banks and corporations to right-wing ones targeting immigration and cultural institutions. What they share is the framing of people versus elite.
What is the difference between a populist and a demagogue?
A populist claims to represent ordinary people against an elite, which may be a sincere position. A demagogue deliberately stirs fear and prejudice to gain power, regardless of truth. Demagogue is always an insult; populist is not always.