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
In the early twentieth century, two groups of Indians living in America, young intellectuals and working-class laborers, had very different experiences of the country.
—
JSTOR Daily, 5 Nov. 2025
Another way to gauge the influence of socialism in US history is to list some of the prominent American writers, artists, intellectuals, activists, and scientists who either publicly embraced the label or favored a socialist blueprint for the nation.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Wade’s first book, Square Haunting, focuses on a group of female intellectuals, including Virginia Woolf, who moved to London’s Mecklenburgh Square in search of greater freedom, and showcases her skills as a researcher and writer.
—Daphne Merkin, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Guests in attendance for this lavish soirée include George’s fellow intellectuals, a large number of dapper hedonists, the handsome horndog Judge Roland Brack (Nicholas Pinnock) — whose wolf-whistle come-ons are neither fully rebuffed nor reciprocated by Hedda — and Thea (Imogen Poots, wasted).
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025
In the 1960s, Canadians hungered for public intellectuals pontificating on the distinctiveness of their identity.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
For more than a quarter century, Keïta photographed Bamakois from all walks of life—government officials, intellectuals, artists, and everyday members of Mali’s rising middle class.
—Folasade Ologundudu, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2025
And this was disliked by intellectuals.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Think of it as a sleek and uncomfortable time capsule of the past half decade of #MeToo discourse, or as a character study of flawed intellectuals desperately attempting to perform their values while clinging to the facade of their respective identities.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 10 Oct. 2025
JSTOR Daily, 5 Nov. 2025
Another way to gauge the influence of socialism in US history is to list some of the prominent American writers, artists, intellectuals, activists, and scientists who either publicly embraced the label or favored a socialist blueprint for the nation.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Wade’s first book, Square Haunting, focuses on a group of female intellectuals, including Virginia Woolf, who moved to London’s Mecklenburgh Square in search of greater freedom, and showcases her skills as a researcher and writer.
—Daphne Merkin, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
Guests in attendance for this lavish soirée include George’s fellow intellectuals, a large number of dapper hedonists, the handsome horndog Judge Roland Brack (Nicholas Pinnock) — whose wolf-whistle come-ons are neither fully rebuffed nor reciprocated by Hedda — and Thea (Imogen Poots, wasted).
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025
In the 1960s, Canadians hungered for public intellectuals pontificating on the distinctiveness of their identity.
—Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
For more than a quarter century, Keïta photographed Bamakois from all walks of life—government officials, intellectuals, artists, and everyday members of Mali’s rising middle class.
—Folasade Ologundudu, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2025
And this was disliked by intellectuals.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Think of it as a sleek and uncomfortable time capsule of the past half decade of #MeToo discourse, or as a character study of flawed intellectuals desperately attempting to perform their values while clinging to the facade of their respective identities.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intellectuals
Noun
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And the pop culture nerds here at Them have been hit especially hard by these losses over the years.—
Catherine Mhloyi,
Them.,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Tape nerds will note that Dončić also made six 2s from the left side of the free-throw area.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In the 1990s, the internet boom created overnight fortunes along with unforeseen challenges for some tech geeks and impresarios who founded wildly successful dot-coms.—
Christina Binkley,
Robb Report,
11 Oct. 2025
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If Substack creators can make a living on affiliate links, why not music geeks?—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Intellectuals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intellectuals. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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