academic 1 of 2

adjective

ˌa-kə-ˈde-mik How to pronounce academic (audio)
variants also academical
Definition of academicnext
1
as in educational
of or relating to schooling or learning especially at an advanced level "If you spent more time in academic pursuits and less time in social ones, you could easily make good grades," the dean told Valerie

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2
as in intellectual
very learned or educated but inexperienced in practical matters academic thinkers who have no understanding of realpolitik

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in theoretical
existing only as an assumption or speculation your arguments are merely academic—such a worst-case scenario is unlikely to ever occur

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

academic

2 of 2

noun

1
as in academe

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2
as in scholar

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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 academic
Adjective
In one particularly clever study, a group of researchers had students predict the academic performance of other students after interviewing them. — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 This is true for ALE too, which academic researchers have studied extensively in an attempt to improve processes or address its low throughput. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
Wilson is not your stereotypical, John Houseman-type academic. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 27 July 2026 As a third-generation native of Echo Park, academic and author Natalia Molina doesn’t remember a time without Burrito King. — Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for academic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for academic
  1. educational
  2. intellectual
  3. theoretical
  4. academe
  5. scholar
  6. scholarly
  7. cerebral
  8. speculative
Adjective
  • In 1966, the federal government commissioned a massive survey aimed at solving educational inequality.
    — Rund Abdelfatah, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service estimate that up to 18,000 private schools, colleges and other educational institutions nationwide could be affected by the proposal.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of educational
Adjective
  • Current data show that excessive screen time and overreliance on tools like AI hinder children's intellectual and emotional development.
    — Michael Chavira, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Either way, the momentum continues the following day when Mercury meets with Uranus retrograde in Gemini, offering a surge of intellectual clarity on the heels of that Neptunian fog.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of intellectual
Adjective
  • Alongside the latest projections, the agency released a database that categorized occupations based on their theoretical and observed exposure to AI.
    — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • One theoretical reason, Flanigan said, is that taking notes by hand creates a more meaningful and deeply processed record of information from a class lecture or meeting.
    — Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of theoretical
Noun
  • And in the academe, there is a growing demand for nuclear science education.
    — Lorela U. Sandoval, Christian Science Monitor, 25 June 2026
  • Different goals lead to different strategies The differences between industry and academe begin with a divergence in purpose.
    — Maysam Ghovanloo, IEEE Spectrum, 28 May 2026
Definition of academe
Noun
  • Margot has been absorbed with a new idea she’s discovered in her work and has even reached out to a scholar at NASA to discuss it.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • As scholars now know, Capa’s early oeuvre encompassed works by both him and Taro.
    — Alissa Simon, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of scholar
Adjective
  • Both are craftsmen, interested in immediate emotional response over esoteric scholarly unpacking.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Its attribution and history have attracted extensive scholarly attention.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of scholarly
Adjective
  • If fluid starts pooling in your lungs (known as high-altitude pulmonary edema) or in your brain (high-altitude cerebral edema), get medical attention as soon as possible.
    — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Japan has selected Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s luminously cerebral French-language feature All of a Sudden as its submission for the best international feature category at the 99th Academy Awards.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of cerebral
Adjective
  • Unitree’s recent slump has raised concerns about how Beijing may boost emerging strategic sectors without stoking a speculative frenzy.
    — Anniek Bao,Elaine Yu, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The premise places the film inside a debate that has moved rapidly from speculative fiction into everyday working life, but Lien’s approach leans away from techno-thriller territory.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of speculative

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academes
academic
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Cite this Entry

“Academic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/academic. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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