as in intelligence
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of brains
Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
Gundogan has been exposed to two of the leading brains in modern football and reads the game like few players can.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In a previous study, the team pinpointed a group of about 200 nerve cells in fruit fly brains that are active when the bugs are making decisions.
—New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2025
And children who grow up with second screening, browsing social media while watching a TV show, are training their brains to seek out dopamine.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
Researchers said the brains of Homo sapiens and Neanderthals had a significant difference that appears to have affected how much lead exposure affected them.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2025
This is My Brain is an age-appropriate introduction to how our brains interact with the rest of our bodies and with each other, and how neurodivergent brains process information.
—Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 15 Oct. 2025
Neuropsychological research shows that teens are more prone to risk-taking because their brains are still developing.
—Caitlin Cavanagh, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
This is consistent with earlier studies showing high levels of total tau in fetal brains with peak levels at around four to five months of gestation and then decreasing two-foldby the sixth month after birth.
—Robert Martone, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
People who were gestating during the famine grew up to have smaller brains; their kidneys had fewer nephrons, which reduces the organs’ effectiveness.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
Gundogan has been exposed to two of the leading brains in modern football and reads the game like few players can.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In a previous study, the team pinpointed a group of about 200 nerve cells in fruit fly brains that are active when the bugs are making decisions.
—New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2025
And children who grow up with second screening, browsing social media while watching a TV show, are training their brains to seek out dopamine.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
Researchers said the brains of Homo sapiens and Neanderthals had a significant difference that appears to have affected how much lead exposure affected them.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2025
This is My Brain is an age-appropriate introduction to how our brains interact with the rest of our bodies and with each other, and how neurodivergent brains process information.
—Sara Rowe Mount, Parents, 15 Oct. 2025
Neuropsychological research shows that teens are more prone to risk-taking because their brains are still developing.
—Caitlin Cavanagh, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
This is consistent with earlier studies showing high levels of total tau in fetal brains with peak levels at around four to five months of gestation and then decreasing two-foldby the sixth month after birth.
—Robert Martone, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brains
Noun
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Civilians working in cybersecurity, medical care, weapons systems maintenance, intelligence, and logistics are still working and are not included in Trump’s order to pay active-duty personnel.—
Terry Moseley,
USA Today,
16 Oct. 2025
-
An Israeli official told CNN that Israel has shared information, based on its intelligence, on the location of some of the bodies of deceased hostages in Gaza.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Curriculums teach about the laws and governmental acts in place that withheld education and advancement from the enslaved, but skip over the intellect and radical acts Black people achieved anyway.—
Taylor Cassidy,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Know that you are loved in all ways, especially for your wit, intellect, and personality above anything else.—
Lisa Stardust,
Refinery29,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Eliminating the need for manual adjustments—whether for meals or for any other changes during the day—would give people with diabetes a tremendous sense of freedom.—
Carrie Arnold,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
-
That choice can shape your income, your sense of purpose, and the arc of your career.—
Suzy Welch,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
When looking for reasons the Nuggets will win a championship, Braun belongs high on the checklist.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
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Same reason Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki – who has emerged as the Dodgers’ surprise solution at closer – brought his talents here.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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There is no detail Nancy doesn’t tend to with a lot of attention and a lot of brainpower.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
11 Oct. 2025
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This session will dive into the basics of brain function, with activities to test your brainpower and an introduction to future career opportunities.—
Jake Richardson,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tariffs are taxes on production, government spending is a tax on progress, deportation saps workforce productivity, and the weak dollar (see the gold price) is a tax on investment.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Cast and crew are emotionally invested in the urgency of the material, but the bland competency of the whole affair saps it of power.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brains. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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