Synonyms of literati

literati

plural noun

ˌli-tə-ˈrä-(ˌ)tē 

as in intelligentsia

intellectuals considered as a social class

Boston's 19th-century literati often referred to their city as "the Athens of America"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of literati

Big Sur, ancestral home of the Esselen Tribe, former refuge for beatniks and literati like Henry Miller, and a hiking haven where the redwoods meet the Pacific Ocean, is fully accessible once more. — Aislyn Greene, AFAR Media, 16 Jan. 2026

This social satire of snobby London literati is about authors, their lovers and muses, and the class dynamics that attract and repel them. — James Folta, Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026

While the other literati tackled heavy topics, Plimpton’s engaging, conversational prose goofed around on the fringes of pro sports. — Stephen Siff, The Conversation, 26 Nov. 2025

The depictions of the New York literati scene, with its backbiting and wary camaraderie, are effective but all too brief. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2025