NERDY Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

nerdy

adjective

as in intellectual

much given to learning and thinking a fringe party of nerdy political activists who have no chance of getting elected

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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 nerdy Shy, nerdy and a pacifist by nature, Pavi has a personality, if one that’s still in formation. — Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 She is welcomed by other interns including the warm and fun Tabitha (Shrinking’s Lupita Maxwell) and nerdy Leonard (a funny Daniel Zolghadri), along with the more colorful Daphne (Iris Apatow). — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026 Also, don’t sleep on this relatively strong Mercury for smoothing your travels and adding a dose of nerdy stimulation to your adventures. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026 All this should be very exciting for fans who have long known one of their favorite games is still unbelievably nerdy and cheesy, but still wanted to see it in the mainstream. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 19 Aug. 2026 These polyester fits have also been parodied in video skits, where comedians put on an all-over polyester print outfit, like a wolf T-shirt and galaxy pants, and parody the stereotypical nerdy kid. — Rachel Hale, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 Spider-Man, in his original incarnation, was really just a nerdy teen named Peter Parker who readers could relate to, and the installments starring Holland have replicated that zippy, youthful energy. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026 There will no longer be a need for a nerdy developer with no people skills. — Kiran Kodithala, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 The duo encourages fans to do the same at upcoming shows in New York, Toronto, Chicago, and Los Angeles this fall—like the friendship bracelet’s nerdy big sister or adult DIY Scholastic Book Fairs. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 5 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nerdy

Adjective

Plath is shown not as a passive victim of despair, but as a brilliant intellectual and visionary poet.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 16 Oct. 2026
In the process, Hall, Woodford, and other scholars helped breathe new life into the ideas of economics giant John Maynard Keynes, whose intellectual legacy, for a time, seemed in danger of melting away.

— Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of intellectual

Adjective

Contemplate standard deviation, a geeky way to measure volatility.

— Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2026
Just as the geeky navel-gazing threatens to become tedious, a joke or a wink keeps the audience laughing and focused on the fantastical story Schoenbrun actually wants to tell—which isn’t a genuine slasher at all.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of geeky

Adjective

If the source is a scholarly journal article, the article’s title appears in a larger font above the additional bibliographic information.

— The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 Oct. 2026
Generating scholarly tomes at a rate of more than one a year involves obsessive amounts of research.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of scholarly

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nerdy

Nereid

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“Nerdy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nerdy. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of nerdy

adjective

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