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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of intelligentsia
For now, these ideas mostly live in the political intelligentsia and online far-right hubs.
—
Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 25 Nov. 2025
Popular opinion was also shaped by an overwhelmingly left-leaning intelligentsia created and shaped by the long national struggle against European imperialism.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
All or nothing For most of the Russian nationalist intelligentsia, Alaska is less a jewel to be recovered than a warning against any concession to the West.
—Dan Morrison, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Ferlinghetti was a veteran both of D-Day, in World War II, and of the left-wing intelligentsia that arose after the war.
—Sam Whiting, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Feb. 2021
See All Example Sentences for intelligentsia
Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 25 Nov. 2025
Popular opinion was also shaped by an overwhelmingly left-leaning intelligentsia created and shaped by the long national struggle against European imperialism.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
All or nothing For most of the Russian nationalist intelligentsia, Alaska is less a jewel to be recovered than a warning against any concession to the West.
—Dan Morrison, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Ferlinghetti was a veteran both of D-Day, in World War II, and of the left-wing intelligentsia that arose after the war.
—Sam Whiting, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Feb. 2021
See All Example Sentences for intelligentsia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intelligentsia
Noun
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Milton was one or two plays away from some elite wins early on in the year, and have finally pieced them together as winners in seven of its last eight to crack the top 10.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
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Suleyman points to the example of the Gutenberg Printing Press as one such innovation that elites sought to check as a threat to their hegemony.—
Michael Ashley,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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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Inter took the Serie A title last night, having been champions-elect for weeks.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
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Obama’s staff would look less amused a few weeks later, as their boss hosted President-elect Trump at the White House.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Intelligentsia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intelligentsia. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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