brains 1 of 2

noun

plural of brain
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

brains

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of brain
as in skulls

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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 brains
Noun
Rabies is a rare but serious viral disease that can infect the brains of both people and animals, according to the California Department of Public Health. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 There's been a revolution in recent decades in understanding how children's brains develop and are changed by trauma. — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026 But the importance of the question has imprinted on our brains. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026 Russell picks up the action from there, charting the unlikely path that took Madden from the NFL sidelines to somehow becoming the brains and brand behind what Madden NFL, what would become one of the bestselling video game franchises of all time. — Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026 The study looked at the brains of experienced birders compared to new birders. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 23 Sep. 2026 To draw that conclusion, Stanford University researchers examined how the brains of mouse embryos develop. — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 22 Sep. 2026 The early distinction in brains could be a legacy of our deep evolutionary past. — Mike McRae 21, New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026 Also, the vocal tracts and brains of our ancestors did not fossilize as they were made of soft tissue. — Hannah Little, Scientific American, 20 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brains
  1. intelligence
  2. clubs
  3. intellect
  4. saps
  5. sense
  6. spears
  7. reason
  8. brainpower
Noun
  • War Secretary Pete Hegseth is mobilizing the Pentagon’s cybersecurity and intelligence resources to protect against foreign interference in the 2026 midterm elections.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The State Department’s annual declassified intelligence report has repeatedly concluded that Russia and North Korea have offensive biological weapons programs, while raising concerns about China and Iran.
    — Ashish K. Jha, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of intelligence
Verb
  • That advantage was in large part offset by payments from UEFA’s ‘value pillar’, a mechanism which awards clubs money based upon their coefficient ranking (determined by past performance in European competition) and the size of their nation’s broadcast rights deal for the competition.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 30 May 2026
  • Their top-30 visits, where NFL clubs host prospects at their facilities to gather further intel, are often smokescreens.
    — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
Definition of clubs
Noun
  • Fundamentalists will claim that the moral code that follows from their faith needs no intellect to follow.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • That far down the line, the brand should still represent creativity, beauty, culture, intellect and craftsmanship.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of intellect
Verb
  • Even when the Delta breezes bring relief, some days the heat saps the appetite.
    — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Misalignment saps energy and trust, making early, honest conversations vital for strong, lasting partnerships.
    — Rick Ford, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of saps
Noun
  • Iran makes another push before heading home In a sign of Tehran’s apparent sense of urgency, Pezeshkian hosted the prime minister of Qatar, the mediator in the indirect talks, early Friday before much of New York rolled out of bed.
    — Cara Anna, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
  • In a sign of Tehran’s apparent sense of urgency, Pezeshkian hosted the prime minister of Qatar, the mediator in the indirect talks, early Friday before much of New York rolled out of bed.
    — Cara Anna, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of sense
Verb
  • The midfielder spears an accurate long ball to Yildiz, setting him away into the box.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Definition of spears
Noun
  • And if anyone knows of any reason this puzzle should not be solved … well, give it a go, anyway.
    — Sam Corbin, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Still, understanding your own reason for saying yes or no can make the decision much easier.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of reason
Noun
  • Submissions soon began pouring in from around the world, including everyone from career number theorists to hobbyists who may have had to look up what a Galois group was, with work powered by everything from AI to stubborn human brainpower.
    — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Dana Williams, American High School The highest-performing students are augmenting their brainpower with AI.
    — Dana Williams, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of brainpower

Phrases Containing brains

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brainpower
brains
brainsick
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Cite this Entry

“Brains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brains. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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