POLYMATHIC Synonyms: 110 Similar and Opposite Words

polymath 1 of 2

noun

Definition of polymath

as in genius

formal someone who knows a lot about many different things She is rightly regarded as something of a polymath in her extensive knowledge of all the earth sciences.

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polymath

2 of 2

adjective

variants or polymathic

as in erudite

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Example Sentences

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 polymath

Noun

Putnam was a polymath who made important strides far beyond just philosophy to mathematics, logic, computer science, and even quantum mechanics. — Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Ben Franklin, the oldest founding father and polymath, stands across from George Washington, the first president of the United States. — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 20 July 2026 By comparing shadows at two locations, the Greek polymath Eratosthenes becomes the first person to accurately calculate the circumference of the earth. — New York Times, 17 July 2026 One artist who inspired Kelela’s approach to world-building is her close friend Solange Knowles, a polymath whose work includes music, performance art, design, teaching and amplifying Black artistry through her Saint Heron platform. — Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for polymath

Recent Examples of Synonyms for polymath

Noun

Parton wrote it as a forgiving farewell to Porter Wagoner, the duet partner who had helped launch her career but also tried to restrict her when her genius took her beyond their partnership.

— Ann Powers, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026
Curry plays billionaire Roger Corwin, head of a communications satellite company that just happens to be a rival to the Angels’ client, software genius Eric Knox (Sam Rockwell, in another standout performance).

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of genius

Adjective

Like Dante, Nick Tosches was an undaunted character whose tongue-twisting prose was an iconoclastic mash-up of realism and intricate, erudite lyricism.

— A.D. Amorosi, SPIN, 6 Aug. 2026
Prolific author and erudite British import David Thomson has been writing about film for more than six decades.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 July 2026

Definition of erudite

Noun

Stomp-and-holler virtuoso Noah Kahan had to cancel his July appearance at Citi Field when storm clouds threatened.

— Matthew Schneier, Curbed, 27 Aug. 2026
Roy Clark could show up at Felix and Oscar’s New York apartment in The Odd Couple to demonstrate his virtuoso pickin’ skills and be summoned to Burbank to sub in for Johnny Carson as a guest host of The Tonight Show.

— David Kamp, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of virtuoso

Adjective

His most acute scorn was reserved for my then-colleague, Alan Abelson, the longtime lead columnist and former Barron’s editor known for his florid, literate and persistent bearishness.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
Luwi considered Koiye the first person in Waieti to become literate.

— Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of literate

Noun

And for all the Padres’ successes under private equity wizard Peter Seidler, his biggest bet went bust, the ‘23 Padres missing the playoffs despite his approving MLB’s third-highest payroll.

— Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
He a notoriously vain, boastful and fame-obsessed wizard well versed in Memory Charms who is recruited by Dumbledore as Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of wizard

Adjective

Some are scholarly, some deliciously indiscreet, all are perceptive in one way or another, and one plunges wholesale into obsession.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
The menu is a scholarly affair, with drinks organized by decade and, beyond that, origin location.

— Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of scholarly

Noun

This coexistence of one god and many gods may initially appear contradictory, but a clearer picture emerges by tracing the history of how Hindu texts, traditions, and thinkers—and some Western scholars—have answered this question.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
But alongside serious thinkers such as Rankine, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Saidiya Hartman, less rigorous writers and ideas were also elevated.

— Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of thinker

Adjective

Advertisement Unfortunately, some of my academic and clinical colleagues have dismissed this approach.

— David H. Rosmarin, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
Hutton said Calumet College regularly sends representatives to the school to monitor it, including its governance system and academic programs.

— Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of academic

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polyhistors

polymath

polymaths

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Style

“Polymath.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polymath. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of polymath

noun

adjective

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