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
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Recent Examples of brains
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 Mar. 2026
To be clear, Cortical Labs’s neural cells aren’t extracted from brains.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2026
The finding is prompting new questions about which animals can dream, how complex brains evolve and what sleep actually does for a nervous system.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
That means dreaming — or something close to it — may have emerged more than once across the animal kingdom in brains that look nothing like ours.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Our brains are trained to engage, and the videos, well, there's no end in sight.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Randy Rose from the Center for Internet Security explained that the reason is built right into our brains.
—Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
When people refresh social media feeds or win a round of a video game, their brains get dopamine jolts that train them to seek that hit again and again.
—Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Other forms of vagus nerve stimulation seem to increase norepinephrine in the brains of rats, and researchers hypothesize that this may also be how vagus nerve stimulation treats epilepsy.
—Elizabeth Riley, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
Yet Christgau, through the Consumer Guide, was the only music critic to wear his system-making brains on the outside.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 Mar. 2026
To be clear, Cortical Labs’s neural cells aren’t extracted from brains.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 28 Mar. 2026
The finding is prompting new questions about which animals can dream, how complex brains evolve and what sleep actually does for a nervous system.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
That means dreaming — or something close to it — may have emerged more than once across the animal kingdom in brains that look nothing like ours.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Our brains are trained to engage, and the videos, well, there's no end in sight.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Randy Rose from the Center for Internet Security explained that the reason is built right into our brains.
—Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
When people refresh social media feeds or win a round of a video game, their brains get dopamine jolts that train them to seek that hit again and again.
—Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Other forms of vagus nerve stimulation seem to increase norepinephrine in the brains of rats, and researchers hypothesize that this may also be how vagus nerve stimulation treats epilepsy.
—Elizabeth Riley, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brains
Noun
-
At their best, then, prediction markets aggregate collective intelligence to weigh the likelihood of future events.—
Parker Bach,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The Pixel 9a brings Google's flagship intelligence to a more accessible price point without compromising on durability or features.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
How could all their passion and intellect be allowed to go to waste?—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Focusing on Young’s addiction feels reductive, especially when her catalog is filled with humor and intellect and skill.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
A little bit of that football mindset in the sense of you just got to go 1-0 that day.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Mar. 2026
-
It is celebrated with a ceremonious parade that features a cavalcade of men dressed in Roman soldier costumes, evoking a sense of solemn thanksgiving and spiritual devotion.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
New romance is a reason to celebrate!—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The future of legal sports betting States that have not yet legalized sports betting may still see similar trends in financial insecurity for reasons beyond spillover effects.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
These are in addition to private members clubs The Wilde and Cipriani, among other highlights.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Shane Stant clubs Kerrigan on the knee and flees the scene.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
To understand what’s next, follow the flow of money and brainpower.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
9 Dec. 2025
-
But the Lambert High School team had advantages, beyond audacity and brainpower.—
Bill Whitaker,
CBS News,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
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But hamate surgery often saps a hitter of power, something Lindor, Carroll and Holliday were expected to supply in 2026.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
An overreliance on tools weakens our civilization (and saps the film’s dramatic thrills).—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brains. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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