anti-humanist
|an-ti-hu-man-ist|
/ˌæn.tiˈhjuː.mən.ɪst/
against humanism; opposed to human-centered values
Etymology
'anti-humanist' is formed from the Greek prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' and the word 'humanist' (from Latin 'humanus' meaning 'human').
'humanist' entered English via Renaissance Latin/Italian (e.g. Italian 'umanista') from Latin 'humanus'; the modern compound 'anti-humanist' was formed in English by combining 'anti-' + 'humanist' to denote opposition to humanist ideas.
Initially used specifically to mean 'against the philosophical movement of humanism'; over time the term has also been applied more broadly to attitudes hostile to humanity itself (approaching 'misanthropy').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who is opposed to humanism or holds anti-humanist views; someone critical of humanist principles.
He was labeled an anti-humanist after publishing essays that attacked humanist assumptions.
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Adjective 1
opposed to humanism (the philosophical, cultural, or ethical emphasis on human interests, values, or dignity); critical of humanist ideas.
Her writings were explicitly anti-humanist, arguing that human-centered ideals neglect broader ecological and social systems.
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Adjective 2
displaying hostility toward humanity as a whole (close to 'misanthropic') — used in contexts where opposition is more toward people than the philosophical movement.
Some critics used the term anti-humanist to describe the novelist's bleak, misanthropic portrayals of society.
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Last updated: 2025/11/01 04:44