NERDISH Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

nerdish

adjective

as in intellectual

much given to learning and thinking nerdish students will find several university organizations where they will fit in

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of nerdish In a deliberately cheap-looking black-and-white faux-’50s horror movie, the comedy team of Tim & Eric (Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim) play nerdish mad scientists who capture and bring to their laboratory a dino-fish monster who looks like a chomping-jawed gill-man made of papier-mâché. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nerdish

Adjective

There is an intellectual curiosity and a real competitiveness.

— Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Nerdy, overweight, and hyper-intellectual, Oscar never seems to fit in with his peers and is unlucky in love.

— Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of intellectual

Adjective

This becomes clear when, moving on from ephemera, the exhibit turns cerebral.

— J. Hoberman, ARTnews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
The ten 8-10’ stand-alone episodes use cerebral, high-concept horror to tell stories about African women who triumph, overcome and subvert in surprising ways.

— Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of cerebral

Adjective

Shy, nerdy and a pacifist by nature, Pavi has a personality, if one that’s still in formation.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
She is welcomed by other interns including the warm and fun Tabitha (Shrinking’s Lupita Maxwell) and nerdy Leonard (a funny Daniel Zolghadri), along with the more colorful Daphne (Iris Apatow).

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of nerdy

Adjective

Contemplate standard deviation, a geeky way to measure volatility.

— Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2026
Just as the geeky navel-gazing threatens to become tedious, a joke or a wink keeps the audience laughing and focused on the fantastical story Schoenbrun actually wants to tell—which isn’t a genuine slasher at all.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of geeky

Adjective

The gift will support the expansion of the institution’s Asian art galleries, as well as acquisitions, scholarly research, and public programs on Sri Lankan art.

— Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
The money will support acquisitions, scholarly research, and public programming, focused primarily on South Asian and Sri Lankan art.

— News Desk, Artforum, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of scholarly

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nerd

nerdish

nerds

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“Nerdish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nerdish. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of nerdish

adjective

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