as in literati
intellectuals considered as a social class
a presidential candidate who was the darling of the intelligentsia—and very few others
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Recent Examples of intelligentsia
The Russian intelligentsia had once admired Ukraine, seeing in it the birthplace of the Muscovite dynasty and Orthodoxy.
—
James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
The president’s hobbling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and National Labor Relations Board has upset the promoters of his domestic agenda in the intelligentsia, while his Gaza proposal has left many of his neo-isolationist boosters scrambling—or sidestepping the subject entirely.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2025
The intelligentsia soon coined another — ‘Kvaravaggio’.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
The island was long a meeting place for members of the Polish intelligentsia living in France and the castle was a source of inspiration for writers including Henryk Sienkiewicz, author of Quo Vadis, first published in 1895 (the year the château was constructed).
—Fanny Guénon Des Mesnards, Architectural Digest, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intelligentsia
James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
The president’s hobbling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and National Labor Relations Board has upset the promoters of his domestic agenda in the intelligentsia, while his Gaza proposal has left many of his neo-isolationist boosters scrambling—or sidestepping the subject entirely.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2025
The intelligentsia soon coined another — ‘Kvaravaggio’.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
The island was long a meeting place for members of the Polish intelligentsia living in France and the castle was a source of inspiration for writers including Henryk Sienkiewicz, author of Quo Vadis, first published in 1895 (the year the château was constructed).
—Fanny Guénon Des Mesnards, Architectural Digest, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intelligentsia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intelligentsia
Noun
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D’Annunzio jeers at her delusional belief that Il Duce will fund her dream project of a theater not for the wealthy cultural and intellectual elite, but for the Great War’s widows, orphans and veterans.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
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Shrewd dealmaker Anutin has been a mainstay in Thai politics throughout years of turmoil, positioning his Bhumjaithai party strategically between warring elites embroiled in an intractable power struggle and guaranteeing its place in a succession of coalition governments.—
Panarat Thepgumpanat,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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They are ruled by a grizzled and sclerotic clerisy that funnels resources to its private army, the terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).—
Matthew Continetti,
National Review,
24 Sep. 2022
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Democrats and the public-health clerisy denounced President Trump for rushing Covid vaccines.—
Allysia Finley,
WSJ,
4 Sep. 2022
Noun
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These Democrats headed for Omaha after Mayoral-elect John Ewing (D-NE) beat Jean Stothert, the longest serving incumbent mayor in the country.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Aug. 2025
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Kuecher said the mobile home park’s motion was against the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act, which says that if a park owner elects to cease the operation of either all or a portion of the mobile home park, the tenants shall be entitled to at least 12-months’ notice.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Intelligentsia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intelligentsia. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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