as in literati
intellectuals considered as a social class
a presidential candidate who was the darling of the intelligentsia—and very few others
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Recent Examples of intelligentsia
The Russian intelligentsia had once admired Ukraine, seeing in it the birthplace of the Muscovite dynasty and Orthodoxy.
—
James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
The president’s hobbling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and National Labor Relations Board has upset the promoters of his domestic agenda in the intelligentsia, while his Gaza proposal has left many of his neo-isolationist boosters scrambling—or sidestepping the subject entirely.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2025
The intelligentsia soon coined another — ‘Kvaravaggio’.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
The island was long a meeting place for members of the Polish intelligentsia living in France and the castle was a source of inspiration for writers including Henryk Sienkiewicz, author of Quo Vadis, first published in 1895 (the year the château was constructed).
—Fanny Guénon Des Mesnards, Architectural Digest, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intelligentsia
James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
The president’s hobbling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and National Labor Relations Board has upset the promoters of his domestic agenda in the intelligentsia, while his Gaza proposal has left many of his neo-isolationist boosters scrambling—or sidestepping the subject entirely.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2025
The intelligentsia soon coined another — ‘Kvaravaggio’.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
The island was long a meeting place for members of the Polish intelligentsia living in France and the castle was a source of inspiration for writers including Henryk Sienkiewicz, author of Quo Vadis, first published in 1895 (the year the château was constructed).
—Fanny Guénon Des Mesnards, Architectural Digest, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for intelligentsia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intelligentsia
Noun
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The divide between the Korean landed elite and the peasant masses that predated Japanese rule grew deeper and more complex as a result of colonial policies.—
Kornel Chang
September 19,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
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Like bees to honey, many of the global elite are choosing to relocate to Madrid for these reasons and more.—
Kissa Castaneda,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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They are ruled by a grizzled and sclerotic clerisy that funnels resources to its private army, the terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).—
Matthew Continetti,
National Review,
24 Sep. 2022
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Democrats and the public-health clerisy denounced President Trump for rushing Covid vaccines.—
Allysia Finley,
WSJ,
4 Sep. 2022
Noun
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Representative-elect James Walkinshaw speaks to reporters in Fairfax, Virginia on September 5, 2025.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
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These Democrats headed for Omaha after Mayoral-elect John Ewing (D-NE) beat Jean Stothert, the longest serving incumbent mayor in the country.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Intelligentsia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intelligentsia. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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