1
as in wizard
a very smart person
the 16-year-old college graduate was considered to be a genius
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in talent
a special and usually inborn ability
had a genius for remembering long strings of numbers had a genius for saying the wrong thing, no matter what the social situation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in aptitude
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
a genius for gambling over his head
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4
as in self
the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others
putting the needs of the individual before those of society is alien to the genius of the Japanese people
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5
as in manifestation
a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality)
the giant tortoise would seem to be the very genius of the unfathomable ancientness that one associates with the Galápagos Islands
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of genius
After years of battling alcoholism, her manuscript presents the perfect opportunity to cement her academic genius.
—
Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025
Freewheelin’ is in many ways his real breakthrough as a songwriting genius.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
Whoever started that was a genius.
—Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
But that was hardly the end of our fastidious, crime-solving genius.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genius
Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025
Freewheelin’ is in many ways his real breakthrough as a songwriting genius.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025
Whoever started that was a genius.
—Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
But that was hardly the end of our fastidious, crime-solving genius.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for genius
Recent Examples of Synonyms for genius
Noun
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But there are many other threats out there, like the evil wizard Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu) who attacks Yennefer’s forces in the climactic Battle of Montecalvo.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
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As the unloved surviving son of a cruel father, he was approached by a wizard who offered him gold to secretly feed a mysterious hedgehog-faced monster in a cave.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Playing sinister demon Bathsheba in The Conjuring universe isn't Joseph Bishara's only impressive talent.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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There’s plenty of talent, though how much will stick around is yet to be seen.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Mount’s defensive aptitude proved important in keeping United compact throughout, regularly dropping into vacant spaces to slow down any nascent attacks.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
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Her aptitude was unavoidable at the Fendi show, where top models holding desirable handbags, styled with joyful knits, eye-catching dresses and sporty separates, strutted past guests, including actors Hilary Duff, Naomi Watts and Bang Chan of the South Korean boy band Stray Kids.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Russell Crowe plays Amorth, bringing his unique screen charisma in such a way that prevents the film from becoming too self-serious.—
Michael Lee Simpson,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
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Watch our natural selves in behind-the-scenes content, not just our serious stage presence.—
Billboard Korea,
Billboard,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This cul-de-sac at the end of civilization feels like a physical manifestation of the loneliness Carol radiates even before the cataclysmic incident.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
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Given the disease’s wide range of trajectories and manifestations—from mild and manageable to severely disabling—some now regard it as a group of diseases, rather than a single one.—
Lucinda Rosenfeld,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Crockett and Ocasio-Cortez reacted to Trump after his comments about their intellect, with the latter clapping back on social media.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
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Burton’s exploits and intellect are legendary.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Performing stand-up since the age of 15, Nasso first discovered his knack for impressions while mimicking SpongeBob and Shrek characters as a mustachioed, 160-pound 10-year-old boy.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
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Leaning on Park’s knack for storytelling, the exhibit includes six installations inspired by Korean folklore and the obangsaek (the traditional Korean color spectrum) of blue, red, yellow, white, and black.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The National Fire Protection Association recommends that devices not be charged under a pillow, or on a bed or couch.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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The team hopes the new battery could power next-generation aircraft, drones, and portable devices.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Genius.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/genius. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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