intellectual 1 of 2

adjective

ˌin-tə-ˈlek-chə-wəl How to pronounce intellectual (audio)
Definition of intellectualnext
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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2
as in mental
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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intellectual

2 of 2

noun

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of intellectual
Adjective
Show Intellectual Generosity One of the most underused ways leaders build authentic professional relationships is through intellectual generosity rather than transactional networking. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 For instance, Venus speaks to our values, pleasure, finances and relationship dynamics, while Libra adds intellectual discernment and diplomacy to the equation. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
This tradition of forceful anti-American sentiment among European intellectuals went into steep decline after the abrupt end of the Cold War in the late Eighties. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 Katherine Kelaidis argues that figures such as Heather Cox Richardson, Jill Lepore, Joanne Freeman, Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Kevin Kruse have become a new class of liberal public intellectuals, translating the past into political commentary. — Literary Hub, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for intellectual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intellectual
  1. cerebral
  2. mental
  3. educational
  4. nerd
  5. academic
  6. internal
  7. scholarly
  8. highbrow
Adjective
  • The Actor Awards have voter crossover with the Emmys, unlike the Globes and Critics Choice, but The Diplomat is a far more SAG-friendly show than the cerebral Pluribus, which didn’t get an ensemble bid with the guild, unlike The Diplomat.
    — Joyce Eng, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The autopsy also found Martinez suffered pulmonary and mild cerebral edema, a potentially deadly condition where excess fluid accumulates in the lungs and brain.
    — Perry Vandell, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of cerebral
Adjective
  • Marshall had been charged with defrauding his mother’s estate of millions by inducing her to change her will in his favor after her mental capacity had faded.
    — Robert D. Mcfadden, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Family businesses can build in legal safeguards, such as mandatory retirement ages or mental capacity evaluations, according to Rahn.
    — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of mental
Adjective
  • What the state won't or can't tell us California's Office of Youth and Community Restoration, or OYCR, oversees the LRP educational pathway programs that its director describes as a prison-to-university pipeline.
    — Julie Watts August 20, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The strikes hit 12 locations across Kyiv’s Darnytskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and Solomianskyi districts, damaging residential buildings, a medical facility and an educational institution.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of educational
Noun
  • If that is not possible, be a nerd and tuck your long pants into your socks.
    — Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Shane is an experienced deer-tracking dog handler, and Ryan is a data nerd by training and a diehard bowhunter.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of nerd
Adjective
  • For students learning online, Darren Harper, the lead academic and enrichment counselor at Crimson Global Academy, says to invest in a quality headset.
    — Adrienne Farr, Parents, 15 Aug. 2026
  • After four years of medical school, plus two more of academic research and clinical rotations, our son Asher was ready to begin his surgical residency at a prominent New York hospital.
    — Allan Ripp, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of academic
Adjective
  • The states are expected to present a trove of internal documents and research from Meta and testimony from former Meta employees and experts.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2026
  • An internal investigation is underway to determine whether any museum staff had been accomplices.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of internal
Adjective
  • The menu is a scholarly affair, with drinks organized by decade and, beyond that, origin location.
    — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Katz is known for a curatorial ethos that places scholarly rigor and popular appeal on equal footing.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of scholarly
Noun
  • Deadline asks the Festival chief whether Series Mania is focused on the highbrow of the drama spectrum.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Richie Grainge herself has evolved her stylistic approach from an ostentatious Los Angeleno verve into a look that’s more low-key highbrow.
    — Nick Remsen, CNN, 13 Feb. 2024
Definition of highbrow

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intellects
intellectual
intellectualism
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Cite this Entry

“Intellectual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intellectual. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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