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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of cerebral
Natanya complicates her old-school character sketch with cerebral shifts in perspective, affecting each of the voices that accompany a young woman’s drive for success and independence (demanding friends and parents, sexist expectations, her own willpower) in a lurching cascade of melodies.
—
H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 13 Jan. 2026
Her work is known for its cerebral quality and an intimate connection to history, identity and art.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 8 Jan. 2026
This Hong Kong film’s guiding force is So Wa Wai (Chung-Hang Leung), a real athlete whose aspirations were nearly thwarted by cerebral spasms that made even walking difficult.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
The weirdly democratized art of fiction means that writers with only a fraction of the cerebral heft of a Susan Sontag can produce novels far better than something as weighty as In America.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cerebral
H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 13 Jan. 2026
Her work is known for its cerebral quality and an intimate connection to history, identity and art.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 8 Jan. 2026
This Hong Kong film’s guiding force is So Wa Wai (Chung-Hang Leung), a real athlete whose aspirations were nearly thwarted by cerebral spasms that made even walking difficult.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
The weirdly democratized art of fiction means that writers with only a fraction of the cerebral heft of a Susan Sontag can produce novels far better than something as weighty as In America.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cerebral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cerebral
Adjective
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Thoughtful communication becomes your tool as intellectual Mercury enters your 3rd House of Writing.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
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It was started by a group of parents who were looking for inclusive support for family members with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the 1970s, a time when the go-to solution was institutionalizing disabled people.—
Grace Donnelly,
AJC.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Does the client have a specific mental disorder?—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The feeling was unfamiliar, since my usual mental coordinates place me somewhere in the proximate future, a locus of anticipation and, all too often, unfocused worry.—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The party is attempting to establish itself as the responsible anchor of a fragile coalition — a role that demands ethical clarity, internal coherence, and strategic restraint.—
Sam Mkokeli,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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Fidelity analyzed internal retirement account data, including that of borrowers enrolled in its student debt benefits programs.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This can be an invitation to take responsibility for your inner fire.—
Katharina Fuchs,
Vogue,
3 Feb. 2026
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Cut in the style’s signature half d’Orsay shape, the shoes left the inner side of the foot open while the outer side stayed fully covered.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The findings also support earlier work linking Jupiter’s atmospheric behavior to its deep interior structure.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
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The angular cut of the frame, the gliding wooden shelves that can be arranged and rearranged to show off bottles, the interior lighting that puts a literal spotlight on the wine—it’s made to draw attention.—
Noah Kaufman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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One body has a large hole in its skull, suggesting the person underwent the ancient surgery of trepanation, which was thought to help migraines, seizures and psychological disorders.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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Known for her work in prestige drama and true-crime storytelling, Miles recently co-wrote the Netflix psychological drama The Unforgivable, directed by Nora Fingscheidt and starring Sandra Bullock.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cerebral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cerebral. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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