1
as in genius
a very smart person
the brains all sit together at lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intelligence
often brains plural
the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems
you have the brains to figure out that problem on your own
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mind
the part of a person that feels, thinks, perceives, wills, and especially reasons
I'd love to get inside his brain and experience the world as he experiences it
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to skull
Related Words
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 brain
Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 14 Jan. 2026
These medications work by mimicking a hormone that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake.
—Lauren Manaker, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 24 June 2025
Introduction May 7, 2025 biology brains cells memory molecular biology neurons neuroscience proteins All topics
(opens a new tab)
When Todd Sacktor (opens a new tab) was about to turn 3, his 4-year-old sister died of leukemia.
—Ajdina Halilovic, Quanta Magazine, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for brain
Noun
When Jayant Parthasarathy lost family members to breast, brain, ovarian, and prostate cancers, his next mission was clear.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 14 Jan. 2026
These medications work by mimicking a hormone that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake.
—Lauren Manaker, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
That explains why the same polls that show Cornyn getting brained in the primary keep showing Paxton faring the worst in the general election.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 24 June 2025
Introduction May 7, 2025 biology brains cells memory molecular biology neurons neuroscience proteins All topics
(opens a new tab)
When Todd Sacktor (opens a new tab) was about to turn 3, his 4-year-old sister died of leukemia.
—Ajdina Halilovic, Quanta Magazine, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for brain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brain
Noun
-
Michael Malone, during his Nuggets days, was a genius at creating enemies, of underlining slights that may or may not have ever been real.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
-
There’s even a Radiohead art-rock mantra that seems to come directly from Kelson’s mad-genius mind.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Many of these soldiers are still involved in supporting Ukraine, including by providing intelligence, logistics, and training assistance worth at least tens of billions per year.—
Jennifer Kavanagh,
Washington Post,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The hackers accessed emails for staffers on the China, foreign affairs, intelligence, and armed services committees, according to a new Financial Times report.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Food prices have been top of mind following a year of up and down tariffs and people losing SNAP benefits during the government shutdown amid growing economic concerns.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The shooting at Brown University and the deaths of two students that resulted will remain seared into the minds of Rhode Islanders for some time.—
Will Richmond,
The Providence Journal,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The ball was sitting on such tight grass that he easily could have chunked or skulled it.—
Daniel Rapaport,
SI.com,
17 June 2019
-
This leaves one big question: Why were people drilling into one another’s skulls 5,000 years ago in the first place?—
Jason Daley,
Smithsonian,
25 Apr. 2018
Noun
-
Who were the ad wizards who came up with that one?—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2026
-
This wizard doesn’t even use a curtain.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The persecution of Trotsky and the Moscow Trials, which caused a rift in the American left, revealed the weakness of Cowley’s party-line political thinking, just as all his other work demonstrated the scope of his literary intellect.—
Vince Passaro,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
-
Mister Terrific emerges as one of Superman’s smartest anchors, threading intellect through a story preoccupied with power, trust, and what the world expects its heroes to be.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
And Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, was built to pull your psyche deep down underneath the ocean waves.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
13 Jan. 2026
-
January pulls you into the depths of your psyche and beneath the surface of love, asking you to slow down long enough to feel something real.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Detmers came in to face the top of the order and beaned Brandon Nimmo to load the bases for Francisco Lindor, who beat out a double play to score Alvarez, and stole second to put runners on second and third.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
22 July 2025
-
Suárez fell behind 3-0 in the count to Ohtani, and on the next pitch, Suárez beaned Ohtani with a 100 mph fastball to the right shoulder.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brain. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
