1
as in cerebral
much given to learning and thinking
as the daughter of college professors, she's used to being around intellectual people
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in internal
of or relating to the mind
intellectual pursuits such as reading and studying
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in educational
of or relating to schooling or learning especially at an advanced level
research that shows that people from very intellectual backgrounds are happiest with spouses having comparable educations
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in nerd
a person with strong intellectual interests
discovered that in politics a reputation for being an intellectual was regarded as a liability
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of intellectual
Sandy Hudson, refinery29.com, 9 July 2025
No dance-pop band has dropped a collection of hits as intellectual, odd, and wonderful as Pet Shop Boys did between 1985 and 1991.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 4 July 2025
Ann Kirschner, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Along the way, there’s friendships with public intellectuals like Oliver Sacks and Christopher Hitchens, actor and director Jonathan Miller, Conde Nast doyenne Anna Wintour, and many more.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for intellectual
Adjective
Sandy Hudson is an activist, public intellectual, creative, and the author of Defund: Black Lives Policing and Safety for All.
—Sandy Hudson, refinery29.com, 9 July 2025
No dance-pop band has dropped a collection of hits as intellectual, odd, and wonderful as Pet Shop Boys did between 1985 and 1991.
—Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 4 July 2025
Noun
Tie public engagement to tenure decisions, and watch all faculty suddenly discover their inner public intellectual.
—Ann Kirschner, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Along the way, there’s friendships with public intellectuals like Oliver Sacks and Christopher Hitchens, actor and director Jonathan Miller, Conde Nast doyenne Anna Wintour, and many more.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for intellectual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intellectual
Adjective
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This work bridges two worlds that have long existed apart: the tribal passion of soccer and the cerebral, curated realm of fine art.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
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But that was a fun element, to play both Spencer and Caleb as cerebral together.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Charles Work, a former assistant U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia, told CBS News that the Justice Department has removed those serving as its internal watchdogs.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
15 July 2025
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But the fact that Elio underwent such extensive tweaks does suggest internal trepidation—and that Pixar could be shying away from more novel, personal works in favor of safer material.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
15 July 2025
Noun
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Bike nerds who are fans of data will dig the ELEMNT Bolt V2.—
Drew Zieff,
Outside Online,
8 July 2025
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Its list, which includes countless bottles of dead stock, boasts vintage spirits that would impress any booze nerd.—
Esther Tseng,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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But Nicole DeWitt, the district’s deputy superintendent, said around $13 million for educator support professional development, multilingual education, academic enrichment and before- and after-school programs could be impacted.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 July 2025
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Cowan’s interest in juggling isn’t purely academic.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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The teen may feel invisible, unheard or powerless in other areas of life, and their eating disorder may become a way to express that inner turmoil without saying much.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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Director Iván Sierra frames it as a meditation on how fear of losing happiness breeds violence – and how true peace lies in confronting inner fears.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
15 July 2025
Noun
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Deadline asks the Festival chief whether Series Mania is focused on the highbrow of the drama spectrum.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2025
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Wagner would be a sleepless highbrow’s favorite; the long, lush, unbroken lines of music share with the white-noise hum of the air-conditioner or the thrum of the painstaking lecture the quality of being absorbing without offering undue eventfulness.—
Adam Gopnik,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This family journey deeply shaped Fisher’s lifelong scholarly drive to chronicle the struggles and the triumphs of Black communities in the American West.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 July 2025
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Of course, the sort of collection that attracts scholarly attention tends toward the rare and precious rather than Izod alligators.—
Libby Buck
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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This definition also includes instance in which the victim is incapable of giving consent because of temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity (include due to the influence of drugs or alcohol) or because of age.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Apr. 2025
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The World Health Organization defines burnout as an occupational phenomenon which is characterized by feelings of energy depletion, increased mental distance from one's job, and reduced professional efficacy.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Intellectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intellectual. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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