Phrase guide

tall poppy syndrome

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The tendency to criticize, resent, or disparage successful people.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, New-Zealand, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From tall poppy + syndrome.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 高大罌粟花綜合症 /高大罂粟花综合症 (gāodà yīngsùhuā zònghézhèng) — the tendency to disparage successful people
  • Dutch: maaiveldcultuur — the tendency to disparage successful people
  • Finnish: herraviha — the tendency to disparage successful people
  • Polish: zazdrość o cudze sukcesy — the tendency to disparage successful people
  • Spanish: síndrome de alta exposición — the tendency to disparage successful people
  • Swedish: jante — the tendency to disparage successful people