Find Antonyms

meritocracy Antonyms

Opposite of meritocracy

Pinning down the opposite of meritocracy requires matching its exact sense, so the antonyms and opposite words below are paired with a clear noun definition and ranked by contrast strength.
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• noun (Context 1)

A social system, organization, or government in which individuals advance and attain power or status based on their demonstrated talent, effort, and achievement rather than wealth or social class.

Usage Example

"The company prides itself on being a true nepotism where promotions are based strictly on performance."

Strongest
nepotism
cronyism
aristocracy
Strong
plutocracy
kakistocracy
oligarchy

Similar words to meritocracy

Words similar to meritocracy shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:

elite
intelligentsia
See all synonyms of meritocracy

• Nearby Words

meridian
merit
meritless
meritocracy
meritocratic
meritorious
mermaid

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Meritocracy. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/meritocracy
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