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
But on last week’s 60 Minutes interview, Nolan, a taut, cerebral presence on TV, failed somewhat to create excitement for his new film The Odyssey, its basic plot sounding vaguely reminiscent of a college extension class – one emblazoned by Imax.
—
Peter Bart, Deadline, 22 May 2026
Krasinski is, as always, an affable, engaging screen presence and is physically convincing going through the action paces (Ryan was originally conceived as a more cerebral figure, but he certainly hasn’t been played onscreen that way).
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
The son of a Scottish immigrant, McCluskie had a reputation as a political street fighter and his gruff style complemented Becerra’s more measured, cerebral approach.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Caleb Downs would be fun on the offensive side of the ball, most likely as a receiver, because of his cerebral nature.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cerebral
Peter Bart, Deadline, 22 May 2026
Krasinski is, as always, an affable, engaging screen presence and is physically convincing going through the action paces (Ryan was originally conceived as a more cerebral figure, but he certainly hasn’t been played onscreen that way).
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
The son of a Scottish immigrant, McCluskie had a reputation as a political street fighter and his gruff style complemented Becerra’s more measured, cerebral approach.
—Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Caleb Downs would be fun on the offensive side of the ball, most likely as a receiver, because of his cerebral nature.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cerebral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cerebral
Adjective
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Yet as time and intellectual capacity move forward, Angie begins to act more independently.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
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Build a culture of intellectual accountability in which employees are expected to interrogate AI output rather than relay it.—
Chris Rosenberg,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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The book does often feel like a recording of a mental jam session, but there is also a sense of being guided by a kind of hesitating yet urgent voice that needs to get things figured out.—
Craig Morgan Teicher,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
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The Eternal Values promise Mierers lured followers in with discussions of enlightenment and mental clarity, often revolving around diet, exercise, celibacy, and the willingness to give up material possessions.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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The sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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Assuming, of course, those staffers don’t emulate Pelley and strongly and sharply disagree or challenge their boss in an internal staff meeting.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
The graffiti on their inner walls, where unknown others have marked their presence, suggests that these tunnels have occupied a number of locations across Berlin.—
Erika Landström,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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Everything—the light, the salt, the slowness—conspires to shift your inner tempo.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2026
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All of those interior shots would have been altered had the Spurs' 7-foot-4 defensive star been in the game.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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The psychological horror film tackles weight loss, diet culture, obsession and addiction.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2026
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Throughout the course of human spaceflight, astronauts have conducted research on anything from muscle atrophy in microgravity to the psychological effects of long-duration missions.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cerebral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cerebral. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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