as in academic
very learned or educated but inexperienced in practical matters
a large public university that needs as its president not some ivory-tower intellectual but a skilled administrator
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for ivory-tower
academic
Adjective
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An international collaboration between 17 academic and scientific institutions, The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice was nominated in a competitive category against productions from NOVA, National Geographic Documentary Films and Netflix.—
Tarini Mehta,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026 -
For the Delfonts, who use a tape-recorder to capture this desperate plea, Leonora’s words serve as irrefutable proof that an academic career has failed to compensate for the absence of a husband and child.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
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“Ivory-tower.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ivory-tower. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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