as in nerds
a person with strong intellectual interests
discovered that in politics a reputation for being an intellectual was regarded as a liability
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Recent Examples of intellectuals
More than 400 intellectuals and students had demonstrated against the regime in a Capuchin monastery on the outskirts of Barcelona and were surrounded by police for two days.
—
Colm Tóibín, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2026
As a young woman, Stanton frequently visited her cousin Gerrit Smith, a militant abolitionist and an ally of John Brown, whose house in Peterboro, New York, was a hotbed for radical intellectuals.
—Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
China’s politicians and intellectuals are embracing the Greek and Roman classics just as the study of these subjects declines in the West.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Turtlenecks and flannels abound, teens vocally question authority at every turn, and a colorful cast of intellectuals pepper the scene.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
Other Jewish intellectuals who don’t live in Germany say they have been shunned from coming.
—Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
More to Explore In this environment, some activists and intellectuals adopted bikes as part of a resistance to car-centric capitalist modernism.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 5 Mar. 2026
While the game remained popular among the elite its ornate imagery also continued to fascinate artists and intellectuals, laying the groundwork for symbolic interpretations.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
During the early to mid-20th century, Du Bois, based at what is now Clark Atlanta University, was among the most respected intellectuals in America.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 2026
Colm Tóibín, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2026
As a young woman, Stanton frequently visited her cousin Gerrit Smith, a militant abolitionist and an ally of John Brown, whose house in Peterboro, New York, was a hotbed for radical intellectuals.
—Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
China’s politicians and intellectuals are embracing the Greek and Roman classics just as the study of these subjects declines in the West.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Turtlenecks and flannels abound, teens vocally question authority at every turn, and a colorful cast of intellectuals pepper the scene.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
Other Jewish intellectuals who don’t live in Germany say they have been shunned from coming.
—Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
More to Explore In this environment, some activists and intellectuals adopted bikes as part of a resistance to car-centric capitalist modernism.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 5 Mar. 2026
While the game remained popular among the elite its ornate imagery also continued to fascinate artists and intellectuals, laying the groundwork for symbolic interpretations.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
During the early to mid-20th century, Du Bois, based at what is now Clark Atlanta University, was among the most respected intellectuals in America.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intellectuals
Noun
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Now, Weir’s novels have a cult following of science nerds and casual readers alike.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
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There was even that party where Rick Ross had to fend off an army of crypto nerds who were trying to scale the stage.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Such comes with a 12-game win streak and computer numbers that make even the geeks party on Broadway.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Part sports hangout, part brewpub, The Ram is the sort of wide-net concept that draws families, high school football fans and — back when craft IPAs were cool — even beer geeks.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Intellectuals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intellectuals. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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