as in knowledge
the understanding and information gained from being educated a scientist of impressive erudition but with a down-to-earth manner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun erudition differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of erudition are knowledge, learning, and scholarship. While all these words mean "what is or can be known by an individual or by humankind," erudition strongly implies the acquiring of profound, recondite, or bookish learning.

an erudition unusual even in a scholar

When might knowledge be a better fit than erudition?

While the synonyms knowledge and erudition are close in meaning, knowledge applies to facts or ideas acquired by study, investigation, observation, or experience.

rich in the knowledge of human nature

When can learning be used instead of erudition?

The meanings of learning and erudition largely overlap; however, learning applies to knowledge acquired especially through formal, often advanced, schooling.

a book that demonstrates vast learning

When could scholarship be used to replace erudition?

In some situations, the words scholarship and erudition are roughly equivalent. However, scholarship implies the possession of learning characteristic of the advanced scholar in a specialized field of study or investigation.

a work of first-rate literary scholarship

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 erudition Indeed, its tonal balance feels of a piece with the playwright’s personality—erudition and prudent attention to identity and representation leavened with irreverent nods to his throat chakra, The Artist’s Way, and teen soaps on The WB. Marley Marius, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2025 Decorated with frescoes, the complex draws inspiration from Greek culture, emphasizing themes of leisure and erudition. Fox News, 18 Jan. 2025 Not everyone’s complexity gets celebrated in its time as erudition. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2025 Horowitz’s erudition, combined with his energy, is a powerful sales tool. Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for erudition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for erudition
Noun
  • More: Great Lakes tribes’ knowledge of nature could be key to navigating climate change.
    Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
  • Crossword puzzles offer a fantastic opportunity to engage your mind, enjoy leisure time, and test your knowledge simultaneously.
    Sally Hoelscher, USA Today, 23 July 2025
Noun
  • Our mission is to increase access to books and their authors, hold space for community conversations guided by books and their authors and to increase critical literacy and the love of reading for all ages.
    American Booksellers Association, USA Today, 25 July 2025
  • The Trump administration is releasing billions of dollars in grants to schools for adult literacy, English language instruction and other programs, the Education Department said Friday.
    Collin Binkley, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2025
Noun
  • Cartwright was widely respected for his scholarship and steady presence in academic and ethical discourse, particularly in the development of Black religious studies and social ethics curricula.
    Sonari Glinton, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Steeped in a lifetime of scholarship and on-site study, the pair summarized what’s currently known about Chacoan culture.
    Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • With financial struggles and worries often cited as reasons for people having fewer children, solutions often focus on calling for policies that include making child care, health care, housing and education more accessible.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
  • Pulling the plug on these dollars is likely to impact rural stations the most, which feed information, entertainment and education to isolated communities.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • The twin boys, Benjamin and Braxton, each live with medical conditions that would require learning and adjustments for everyone.
    Angela Andaloro, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • Even if something new and better manifests in six months, be agile and use your learnings to shift.
    Don Murray, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Erudition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erudition. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on erudition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!