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Definitions

highbrow

[hahy-brou] / ˈhaɪˌbraʊ /
ADJECTIVE
intellectual
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cerebral scholarly
STRONG
wise
WEAK
bookish brainy cultivated cultured erudite intellective intelligent learned studious
NOUN
intellectual, very smart person
Synonyms
STRONG
Einstein academic academician bluestocking brain egghead genius intelligentsia philosopher sage savant scholar thinker whiz
WEAK
illuminato literato longhair
Antonyms
STRONG
ignoramus imbecile

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He was an everyday guy who had fallen in love, not a highbrow sophisticate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

“I mean, what is the purpose that they serve, other than speaking to other completely disconnected supposedly highbrow people that live in congested urban areas?”

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2026

He reaped great commercial rewards with cutting-edge highbrow material—yet sometimes felt his audience couldn’t keep up.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 29, 2025

But readers who wanted highbrow had other places to turn.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2025

And Volpe’s tastes, in fact, are not uniformly highbrow.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.