as in sense
the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems
she's got the gray matter to figure that equation out
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gray matter
Niotis added that neurodegenerative diseases cause accelerated brain shrinkage in specific regions of the brain like the gray matter.
—
Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 21 Nov. 2025
Long-term, alcohol damages the brain by shrinking white and gray matter, dulling rewards, and overactivating the stress system.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025
In the brain, MRI can differentiate between white matter and gray matter and can also be used to diagnose aneurysms and tumors.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The researchers looked specifically at where gray matter (the body of a neuron) intersects with white matter (the long axons that project out of the cell body) — an area thought to be particularly vulnerable to head impacts.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gray matter
Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 21 Nov. 2025
Long-term, alcohol damages the brain by shrinking white and gray matter, dulling rewards, and overactivating the stress system.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025
In the brain, MRI can differentiate between white matter and gray matter and can also be used to diagnose aneurysms and tumors.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The researchers looked specifically at where gray matter (the body of a neuron) intersects with white matter (the long axons that project out of the cell body) — an area thought to be particularly vulnerable to head impacts.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gray matter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gray matter
Noun
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With it, comes a public sense of ownership of its most important characters.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
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Lundgren shares some wise words about how being a man is more than muscles, and about getting in front of himself — which doesn't make sense at the time, but will later.—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 June 2026
Noun
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More vocal proponents of the statute include the top Republicans and Democrats on the intelligence committees, as well as congressional leaders in both chambers.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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The military had to blow up two of its own special operations aircraft on the ground in Iran during the covert mission, which involved hundreds of American military and intelligence personnel, including special operations forces.—
Todd Symons,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Noun
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Luna spends the day in the socially conscious sign of Aquarius, shifting the emotional tone toward intellect, perspective, eccentricity and detachment.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
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Mesoudi, who was not involved in the new study, agrees that cultural evolution was probably a key to human success while noting that the secret sauce could instead turn out to be social cooperation, language, individual intellect, or some combination of these factors.—
Cody Cottier,
Scientific American,
4 June 2026
Noun
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While the dormant transmission line had been long out of use, there are many reasons to keep it from being dismantled, including growth in the region, Dunleavy said.—
Tony Saavedra,
Daily News,
10 June 2026
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However, Wake County Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins dismissed the claims, citing procedural reasons.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gray matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gray%20matter. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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