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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 The child developed spastic cerebral palsy and was believed to have cerebral visual impairment. — Inaya Folarin Iman, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026 With both of these planets transiting Air signs, there is a cerebral side to this alignment, presenting the opportunity to channel feelings of restlessness into something resourceful. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026 When he was hired in January, the prevailing thought was that the cerebral partnership between McDaniel and Herbert would prove a perfect match. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026 Yet despite the technical wizardry—dry-aging, fermentation, curing, meticulous butchery—the dishes never feel overly cerebral. — Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 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
  • This intellectual approach comes through her work at Diotima in similar but different ways.
    — Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The project would also include 20 homes for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, retail space and a community park.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of intellectual
Adjective
  • When asked what part of her golf game has improved the most since last year, Layla Phillips cited mental toughness.
    — Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Hell Week is designed to test the physical and mental limits of candidates.
    — James LaPorta, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of mental
Adjective
  • Stearns also cited internal candidates that can fill in at second base.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 10 Nov. 2026
  • So many others – not all but many – feeling the squeeze of instant satisfaction from itchy fan bases and twitchy administrations, or the march of their own internal professional clocks, are opting to fast-track experience.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of internal
Adjective
  • When James Kelman won the Booker Prize in 1994, the decision was met with disgust by the literary establishment, appalled by the profanity and the informality of the Glasgow drunk whose inner life the novel details.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Ballot rejections have skyrocketed, Democracy Docket reported, because voters aren’t sealing the inner envelope.
    — Jen Fifield, ProPublica, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of inner
Adjective
  • With Sieler’s season coming to a conclusion the Dolphins will be forced to use Grant, nose tackle Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers, who plays defensive tackle and defensive end, as the interior players on the defensive line.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The extended roofline gives drivers extra headroom, reclining seats, and interior storage behind the seats to keep tools dry and secure.
    — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of interior
Adjective
  • And Google was sued this week by the parents of a child who allegedly suffered a psychological crisis after chatting with the Gemini AI chatbot in Google Classroom.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Employees need sufficient decision latitude, psychological safety and access to knowledge to question assumptions, challenge AI outputs and contribute expertise across boundaries.
    — Ghenwa Habbal, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of psychological

Browse Nearby Words

ceramics
cerebral
cerebral palsy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cerebral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cerebral. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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