cerebral

adjective

sə-ˈrē-brəl How to pronounce cerebral (audio)
Definition of cerebralnext
1
as in intellectual
much given to learning and thinking a very cerebral jurist who has given much thought to what makes our nation's constitution work

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mental
of or relating to the mind a young man given more to cerebral pursuits than to sporting activities

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 cerebral He was born nine weeks premature and suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage. — Kat Pettibone, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 For decades, Natalie Portman has been one of our most cerebral stars. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 The autopsy also found Martinez suffered pulmonary and mild cerebral edema, a potentially deadly condition where excess fluid accumulates in the lungs and brain. — Perry Vandell, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) convert cerebral inputs into actions that allow for improved cognition, prosthetics, or device control. — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cerebral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cerebral
  1. intellectual
  2. mental
  3. internal
  4. inner
  5. interior
  6. psychological
Adjective
  • Current data show that excessive screen time and overreliance on tools like AI hinder children's intellectual and emotional development.
    — Michael Chavira, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Either way, the momentum continues the following day when Mercury meets with Uranus retrograde in Gemini, offering a surge of intellectual clarity on the heels of that Neptunian fog.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of intellectual
Adjective
  • Gloria Steinem attributed her mother's nervous breakdown before she was born, and her treatment in mental institutions and the workforce thereafter, as key to her interest in social injustices.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • But writing notes by hand requires a more engaged mental filter.
    — Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of mental
Adjective
  • This group has plenty of candidates for some internal development.
    — Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Those inspection tools can help manufacturers identify internal issues before propulsion hardware reaches later production stages.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of internal
Adjective
  • First, the continuous scouring action of the water jet removes slag and oxidized sputtering residues, producing a clean processing interface with smooth inner walls and vertical groove profiles.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Zumthor’s discussion of creating inner security and safety for me immediately evokes for me the specter of its opposite, the unsafe spaces, the spaces of destruction, the homes flattened in Ukraine, Yemen, Lebanon and Gaza.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of inner
Adjective
  • Sports stars, celebrities and business heavyweights could enter from an interior loading dock area to a blue carpet backstage, allowing access into the club without having to navigate the crowds.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
  • On Tuesday, Central Florida is expected numerous showers and storms, with the highest chances across the interior west of Interstate 95.
    — Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of interior
Adjective
  • Aside from the psychological baggage of last year’s visits to Nottingham and Brighton, all three opponents (with Brentford being the other) aspire to qualify for Europe.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Perhaps the most intriguing risk factor for psychopathology gleaned from clinical psychological science, and one that is particularly relevant to the assessment and treatment of postpartum psychopathology, is malignant self-criticism.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of psychological

Browse Nearby Words

ceramics
cerebral
cerebral palsy
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Cite this Entry

“Cerebral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cerebral. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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