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
The first National Conservatism conferences drew students and intellectuals who felt marginalized by the Republican Party and dreamed about taking power.
—
David Weigel, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noah Baumbach’s painfully incisive portrait of a family divorce among a remarkably prickly family of Brooklyn intellectuals finds so many ways to showcase its characters’ most brittle sides.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
From the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival to the Martha’s Vineyard Black Book Festival and everything in between, Black intellectuals are coming together to share notes and swap contacts to forge new relationships and invest in each other.
—Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
For American politicians and intellectuals alike, criticizing Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank or questioning America’s support for Israel has become dangerous, all too often incurring charges of antisemitism.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
There were radicals, activists, intellectuals as well as common criminals, the usual power brokers, and always a mob lurking in the background.
—Phil Terrana, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
During the Cold War, political parties, trade unions, intellectuals, civil-society organizations, and even religious leaders forged transnational ties in defense of democratic ideas—remember the AFL-CIO’s embrace of Poland’s Solidarity movement?
—Michael McFaul, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
The property was originally built by a philosopher and theologian as a retreat for artists and intellectuals, and is now famous for hosting the G7 summit in 2015 and 2022.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2025
Although other Russian intellectuals have called for Ukraine’s incorporation into the Russian Federation, none have done so for quite so long, or with such a murderous tone, as Dugin.
—James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
David Weigel, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noah Baumbach’s painfully incisive portrait of a family divorce among a remarkably prickly family of Brooklyn intellectuals finds so many ways to showcase its characters’ most brittle sides.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
From the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival to the Martha’s Vineyard Black Book Festival and everything in between, Black intellectuals are coming together to share notes and swap contacts to forge new relationships and invest in each other.
—Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
For American politicians and intellectuals alike, criticizing Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank or questioning America’s support for Israel has become dangerous, all too often incurring charges of antisemitism.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
There were radicals, activists, intellectuals as well as common criminals, the usual power brokers, and always a mob lurking in the background.
—Phil Terrana, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
During the Cold War, political parties, trade unions, intellectuals, civil-society organizations, and even religious leaders forged transnational ties in defense of democratic ideas—remember the AFL-CIO’s embrace of Poland’s Solidarity movement?
—Michael McFaul, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
The property was originally built by a philosopher and theologian as a retreat for artists and intellectuals, and is now famous for hosting the G7 summit in 2015 and 2022.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2025
Although other Russian intellectuals have called for Ukraine’s incorporation into the Russian Federation, none have done so for quite so long, or with such a murderous tone, as Dugin.
—James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intellectuals
Noun
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What a bad day for the state of South Carolina against nerds who wear gold.—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
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Ratings nerds expect the momentum to continue in Week 2 thanks largely to Sunday’s Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl rematch that will be available in 100% of the country, not usual.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Some technology geeks may indeed be attracted to these features, though there are trade-offs here, and steep ones, as many normies will also find these features absolutely infuriating.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Some beer geeks refer to it as Cascadian Dark Ale, or American Black Ale.—
Brad Japhe,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Intellectuals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intellectuals. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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