as in scholarly
marked by or given to showing knowledge in a showy way
The writer apparently thought using a bunch of inkhorn terms would impress the reader and distract from the severely lacking plot.
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inkhorn
Adjective
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In December, Summers was dealt a lifetime ban from the American Economic Association, a nonprofit scholarly association dedicated to economic research, over his Epstein ties.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026 -
In December, Summers was dealt a lifetime ban from the American Economic Association, a nonprofit scholarly association dedicated to economic research, over his Epstein ties.—
Collin Binkley,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Mimicking anti-Vietnam War demonstrators, students erected the tent encampment to call for Columbia to divest from its academic ties to Israel and its investments in weapons manufacturers and tech companies that do business with Israel’s government.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
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Two of the most respected professors—an academic power couple—invited me to their home for dinner.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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At the heart of this debate seems to be both a misunderstanding of the point of scholastic sports and a view, at least by some, that trans girls have an unfair physical advantage.—
Peter Jensen,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Jan. 2026
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In a white paper released in October, the committee recommends moving the men’s game, and perhaps the women’s, from the current fall-only schedule to one that covers the entire scholastic year and culminates in an April playoff festival.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
12 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Primarily written by Alexander Hamilton, the essays were an intellectual defense of the Constitution.—
Michael Golden,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2026
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These are articulate, intellectual characters who tend to speak openly about their emotions and even drift into philosophical ruminations.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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They were organized and well led by guides who were always clearly spoken, professional, and responsive to questions (if sometimes a tad pedantic in their fact-sharing).—
Alex Postman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
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Instead, Wallace made stuff like reading a lot and being pedantic about grammar seem somehow cool.—
John Semley,
Wired News,
30 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Inkhorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inkhorn. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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