a person who is indifferent to or hostile toward culture and the arts
example
Despite living in a city rich in history and art, he often dismissed the galleries as the work of philistines who couldn't appreciate true creativity.
synonyms
booroafignoramus
word origin — The term derives from the ancient Philistines, a people historically viewed by the Israelites as culturally lowly or hostile.
SAT Vocabulary Level 3 — Set 78
Set 78 of SAT Vocabulary Level 3 covers 5 words: philistine, loner, castigation, discontinuance, antipodes. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
philistine · noun/ˈfɪl.ɪ.stin/
a person who is indifferent to or hostile toward culture and the arts
Despite living in a city rich in history and art, he often dismissed the galleries as the work of philistines who couldn't appreciate true creativity.
Synonyms: boor, oaf, ignoramus
Origin: The term derives from the ancient Philistines, a people historically viewed by the Israelites as culturally lowly or hostile.
loner · noun/ˈloʊnər/
a person who prefers to spend time alone instead of being with others
Despite being labeled a loner, he found solace in his books and cherished his quiet time.
Synonyms: recluse, introvert, hermit
Origin: The word 'loner' is derived from the word 'lone', which comes from Middle English 'lone', from Old English 'ān', meaning 'one'. The suffix '-er' indicates a person characterized by a particular quality, in this case, a person who prefers solitude.
castigation · noun/ˌkæstɪˈɡeɪʃən/
severe criticism or punishment
The teacher's castigation of the student's repeated tardiness was both harsh and unexpected.
Synonyms: chastisement, reprimand, punishment
Origin: from Latin 'castigatio', from 'castigare' meaning 'to chastise, correct' (castus meaning 'pure, chaste' + agere meaning 'to act').
discontinuance · noun/dɪskənˈtjuːnəns/
the act of ceasing or bringing to an end
The company announced the discontinuance of its popular product line due to declining sales.
Synonyms: cessation, termination, halt
Origin: from Latin 'discontinuare', meaning 'to break off or interrupt'
antipodes · noun/ˈæntɪˌpoʊdz/
places or points that are directly opposite each other on the earth's surface
Sydney and its antipodes in South America present vastly different cultures and climates.
Synonyms: opposites, counterparts
Origin: from Greek 'antipodes' meaning 'opposite feet', from 'anti-' meaning 'against' and 'pous, podos' meaning 'foot'