If you describe someone as a parvenu, you think that although they have acquired wealth or high status they are not very cultured or well-educated.
[formal, disapproval]
Synonyms: upstart, nouveau riche, social climber, arriviste More Synonyms of parvenu
More Synonyms of parvenu
parvenu in British English
(ˈpɑːvəˌnjuː)
noun
1.
a person, esp a man, who, having risen socially or economically, is considered to be an upstart or to lack the appropriate refinement for his or her new position
adjective
2.
of or characteristic of a parvenu
Word origin
C19: from French, from parvenir to attain, from Latin pervenīre, from per through + venīre to come
parvenu in American English
(ˈpɑrvəˌnu; ˈpɑrvəˌnju)
noun
1.
a person who has suddenly acquired wealth or power, esp. one who is not fully accepted socially by the class associated with the higher position; upstart
adjective
2.
being a parvenu
3.
like or characteristic of a parvenu
Word origin
Fr, pp. of parvenir < L pervenire, to arrive < per, through (see per1) + venire, come
Synonyms of 'parvenu'
upstart, nouveau riche, social climber, arriviste
upstart, nouveau riche
More Synonyms of parvenu
(noun)
Definition
a person newly risen to a position of power or wealth who is considered to lack culture or education
the parvenu's snobbish desire to be linked with celebrities
Synonyms
upstart
an upstart who had come from nowhere
nouveau riche (French)
The nouveau riche have to find a way of being accepted.
the gaudy mansions Shaw built for the nouveaux riches in the late 19th century
social climber
arriviste
They were regarded by some as pushy arrivistes.
(adjective)
He's just a parvenu entrepreneur.
Synonyms
upstart
nouveau riche (French)
The countryside is changing and nouveau riche people are moving in.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arriviste
They were regarded by some as pushy arrivistes.
Synonyms
upstart,
would-be,
climber,
social climber,
status seeker,
adventurer or adventuress,
parvenu or parvenue
in the sense of nouveau riche
Definition
a person who has become wealthy recently and is regarded as vulgar
The nouveau riche have to find a way of being accepted.the gaudy mansions Shaw built for the nouveaux riches in the late 19th century
Synonyms
arriviste,
upstart,
new-rich,
parvenu
in the sense of nouveau riche
The countryside is changing and nouveau riche people are moving in.