1
as in cerebral
much given to learning and thinking
as the daughter of college professors, she's used to being around intellectual people
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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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of intellectual
Valerie Mesa, People.com, 29 May 2025
Use it to stretch your intellectual and emotional muscles in low-stakes settings.
—Gerald Bradshaw, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
Now is not the time to admit to these problems, leaders—from Democratic Party officials to C.E.O.s, intellectuals, university presidents, and newspaper editors—had advised, for years, because this is an emergency.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intellectual
Adjective
This surge of intellectual energy will not only inspire a flurry of thoughts but also unlock new perspectives in the process.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 29 May 2025
Use it to stretch your intellectual and emotional muscles in low-stakes settings.
—Gerald Bradshaw, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
Noun
Coming from an impoverished family, Ding eagerly took part in public humiliation rallies against teachers, intellectuals, government officials and others labeled as enemies of Mao’s vision.
—Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
Now is not the time to admit to these problems, leaders—from Democratic Party officials to C.E.O.s, intellectuals, university presidents, and newspaper editors—had advised, for years, because this is an emergency.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intellectual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intellectual
Adjective
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Once at the hospital, the man was diagnosed with having a cerebral stroke, the lawsuit said.—
Jennifer Rodriguez,
Kansas City Star,
13 May 2025
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The humor was of the cerebral, physical, cynical and quite often gallows varieties, but always heartfelt.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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The Dodgers will return serve with internal success stories based mostly on changeups and splitters in Tony Gonsolin, Knack and Yamamoto.—
Eno Sarris,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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For a bunch of silly action movies, McQuarrie and Cruise’s read on the post-9/11 intelligence state is surprisingly adroit: The internal and external warring factions are purely self-interested, and corruption is the coin of the realm.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Fuller, like many a brilliant nerd, was initially awkward with her peers.—
James Marcus,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
-
Most of us would settle for Lucozade and a duvet on the settee, but Howe is Newcastle’s king nerd.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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This philosophical underpinning drives the company beyond mere resurrection spectacles — a critique often levied by academic skeptics following the company’s milestone de-extinction announcement.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
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Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.—
Anna Commander
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Check The Care Label Duvets can be made from a variety of materials, both in outer shell and inner filling, so your first step before washing should always be to check the tag from the manufacturer for specific care instructions.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
31 May 2025
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The functional fragrance is meant to boost mood, bring inner balance and spark the senses, all while imbuing a sense of clarity and peace.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes.com,
30 May 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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Articles appear in scholarly journals, and books are published by university presses, only after a rigorous, double-blind review process.—
James T. Kloppenberg,
Time,
28 May 2025
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Her scholarly work includes works on the Constitution, democracy in America and women’s citizenship.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
20 May 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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Without supervision or regulation, kids can easily stumble upon explicit material, including violent and extremist content, that can lead to mental distress, desensitization and a warped perception of the world around them.—
Richard Wistocki,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Intellectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intellectual. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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