Synonyms of intelligentsia

intelligentsia

noun

in-ˌte-lə-ˈjen(t)-sē-ə 

as in literati

intellectuals considered as a social class

a presidential candidate who was the darling of the intelligentsia—and very few others

Synonyms & Similar Words

• literati
• elite
• clerisy
• elect
• avant-garde
• prime
• culturati
• best
• cream
• chosen
• fat
• illuminati
• flower
• upper crust
• choice
• pick

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of intelligentsia

Until recently, Liu was a noisy member of the Chinese intelligentsia, with little influence in politics. — Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026

Like most of the foreign intelligentsia, such as Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos, and the New York Times correspondent Herbert Matthews, all of whom had come to Madrid to cover the war, Martha arrived in Spain a passionate partisan. — Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026

Epstein found ways to infiltrate the intelligentsia besides making overtures to cash-hungry researchers. — Miles Klee, Wired News, 24 Feb. 2026

For now, these ideas mostly live in the political intelligentsia and online far-right hubs. — Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 25 Nov. 2025