1
as in thought
something imagined or pictured in the mind
notebooks filled with his intellections on an amazing array of topics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reasoning
the thought processes that have been established as leading to valid solutions to problems
ever since Descartes famously declared, "I think, therefore I am," people have tended to regard acts of conscious intellection as proof of their own existence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 intellection
Texture, depth and grainy intellection are absent.
—
Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Despite appearances to the contrary—the swirling sentences, the feverish intellection—there is nothing hermetic about Krasznahorkai’s work, both old and new, which squarely faces contemporary European reality and its perils, including the tortured dynamics of settlement, movement, and identity.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2025
Tennant always brought his own intellection to Disco’s throbbing hedonism yet was hedonistic nonetheless, perfecting a musical idiom that his forerunner Noel Coward was too early to enjoy.
—Armond White, National Review, 10 May 2024
The school board’s legal counsel thought the book could be in conflict with a recent state intellection freedom rule, and recommended it be removed from circulation, according to a spokeswoman.
—Tcrain, al, 26 Jan. 2023
There is pleasant cohesion to his body of work, with its blend of bookish intellection and breezy verbal humor.
—The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2021
This is a big spread, in other words, an ambitious platter of intellection and emotion.
—Dwight Garner, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2016
Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Despite appearances to the contrary—the swirling sentences, the feverish intellection—there is nothing hermetic about Krasznahorkai’s work, both old and new, which squarely faces contemporary European reality and its perils, including the tortured dynamics of settlement, movement, and identity.
—James Wood, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2025
Tennant always brought his own intellection to Disco’s throbbing hedonism yet was hedonistic nonetheless, perfecting a musical idiom that his forerunner Noel Coward was too early to enjoy.
—Armond White, National Review, 10 May 2024
The school board’s legal counsel thought the book could be in conflict with a recent state intellection freedom rule, and recommended it be removed from circulation, according to a spokeswoman.
—Tcrain, al, 26 Jan. 2023
There is pleasant cohesion to his body of work, with its blend of bookish intellection and breezy verbal humor.
—The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2021
This is a big spread, in other words, an ambitious platter of intellection and emotion.
—Dwight Garner, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intellection
Noun
-
In Islamic thought, wealth is understood as a trust from God, to be handled with care and never mistaken for proof of divine endorsement.—
Boutayna Chokrane,
Pitchfork,
7 May 2026
-
Jerry Seinfeld is offering his thoughts on Friends — not that there’s anything wrong with that.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Success at tests like puzzles and mazes, which appeared to Washburn to be the result of reasoning, or insight—observation and detection—Thorndike insisted was instead merely the result of blundering, repetition, and trial and error.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
In their own filing, prosecutors disagreed with Crosland's reasoning, according to the report.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
The Virgin Mary and her immaculate conception were to be celebrated, and perhaps no other nation threw themselves into the veneration of Mary that year quite like the Irish.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 May 2026
-
Since the event’s conception in 2013, more than 60,000 donors have helped hundreds of nonprofit organizations in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties raising more than $117 million, according to the Sacramento Region Community Foundation.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
As fake dating logic dictates, proximity (and, blessedly, only one bed) leads to very real feelings.—
Erin La Rosa,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
There’s sort of a Möbius strip of logic there.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Of course, Father’s Day brunch ideas must go beyond casual weekday toast and cereal, because the fathers and father figures in our lives deserve a little extra effort.—
Hannah Lee Leidy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 May 2026
-
The kind of storm leaving Maxey resigned to the very idea of defeat before the halftime break.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
While Miller and his colleagues note in their study that past efforts to convince gun-owning households with kids to safely store their firearms haven't succeeded, Sathya sees reasons to be optimistic in his own health system.—
Rhitu Chatterjee,
NPR,
12 May 2026
-
This is one reason why a partner of someone with avoidant attachment may perceive their partner as emotionally unavailable, overly self-sufficient, detached or distant or resistant to commitment.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Food and drink Mostrador, Marram’s singular food concept, is an elevated counter service spot with Uruguayan flair (no wonder, as it is helmed by an Uruguayan team that knows a thing or two about fantastic beach food).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
-
The concept of everyone coming together for one evening — and pausing their competition for the good of the overall TV business — had some legs.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
And all sorts of people—technologists, writers, artists, politicians, investors, and businesspeople—now work to shape our notions about what’s to come.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
Aether enthusiasts contorted themselves in knots attempting to explain this null result while still saving the notion of the aether itself.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Intellection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intellection. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
