1
as in geeks
a person slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits
was such a nerd in college that she spent Saturday nights at the library
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intellectuals
a person with strong intellectual interests
an unlikely romance between a nerd and a campus beauty queen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nerds
With a mood board of influences including CD-binder staples like Neil Young’s Harvest Moon and alt-country lifers Blue Rodeo’s Five Days in July, Shabason and Krgovich summon the spirit of a backyard campfire attended by folkies and experimental jazz nerds alike.
—
Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 18 June 2026
The tsunami of interest hasn’t been limited to just Hollywood insiders, TV nerds geeking out in chat rooms, or TikTokers sharing clips.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 18 June 2026
Last year's Canadian Open was a birdie-fest and ball-knowers, aka golf course nerds, are dragging TPC Toronto, calling it lifeless and uninspiring.
—Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
The outlet reported that the comedy film was set to center a group of nerds learning martial arts and follow the relationship that forms between the students and their karate sensei.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026
Drama of the nerds and the geniuses.
—Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
SpaceX has been blowing up Starship rockets left and right, and the space nerds seem to be cheering them on.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Strategy consulting definitely has room for nerds.
—Christian Stadler, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The nerds have moved out of the garage and into their techno feudalist era.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 26 May 2026
Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 18 June 2026
The tsunami of interest hasn’t been limited to just Hollywood insiders, TV nerds geeking out in chat rooms, or TikTokers sharing clips.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 18 June 2026
Last year's Canadian Open was a birdie-fest and ball-knowers, aka golf course nerds, are dragging TPC Toronto, calling it lifeless and uninspiring.
—Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
The outlet reported that the comedy film was set to center a group of nerds learning martial arts and follow the relationship that forms between the students and their karate sensei.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026
Drama of the nerds and the geniuses.
—Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
SpaceX has been blowing up Starship rockets left and right, and the space nerds seem to be cheering them on.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Strategy consulting definitely has room for nerds.
—Christian Stadler, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The nerds have moved out of the garage and into their techno feudalist era.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nerds
Noun
-
Heaven to the geeks and superfans in the balcony.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
-
Hyatt Regency Lake Washington Budding aviators, plane geeks and those looking for any type of airport job can get a sneak peek without even booking an airline ticket.—
Ramsey Qubein,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Black intellectuals such as Ralph Ellison knew this, too, despite living at a time when the lynchings of Black people were still a regular feature of American life.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
-
The demonization of minorities was nothing new, of course, but New York in the Seventies birthed a reactionary movement that was supported by politicians, public intellectuals, elites, and working people alike.—
Kevin Lozano,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nerds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nerds. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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