as in intelligentsia
intellectuals considered as a social class
a society lacking a well-established clerisy with a strong commitment to democratic ideals
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Recent Examples of clerisy
They are ruled by a grizzled and sclerotic clerisy that funnels resources to its private army, the terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
—
Matthew Continetti, National Review, 24 Sep. 2022
Democrats and the public-health clerisy denounced President Trump for rushing Covid vaccines.
—Allysia Finley, WSJ, 4 Sep. 2022
Only those the board licenses are admitted to the clerisy uniquely entitled to publicly discuss engineering.
—George Will, Twin Cities, 13 June 2017
Matthew Continetti, National Review, 24 Sep. 2022
Democrats and the public-health clerisy denounced President Trump for rushing Covid vaccines.
—Allysia Finley, WSJ, 4 Sep. 2022
Only those the board licenses are admitted to the clerisy uniquely entitled to publicly discuss engineering.
—George Will, Twin Cities, 13 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clerisy
Noun
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Revolutionary groups, often recruited from universities and the intelligentsia, were soon carrying out terrorist attacks in the cities.—
Karl Ove Knausgaard,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
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Thousands of outstanding members of the intelligentsia had perished in Stalin’s prisons and camps, but lifelines could nonetheless be established between those who came before and those who came after.—
Benjamin Nathans
September 24,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The North Korean elite in Pyongyang – whose support is crucial to maintaining national stability, despite Kim’s near-absolute power – appear to be enjoying a higher living standard than previously, with more access to modern technology and amenities.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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Revenues for the third film managed to improve upon the prior entry in the series about the grand houses and the servants and elite who populate them.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clerisy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clerisy. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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