variants
also academical
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intellectual
very learned or educated but inexperienced in practical matters
academic thinkers who have no understanding of realpolitik
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in academe
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of academic
Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Nov. 2025
But there is some academic research that shows targeted online advertising can sway voter behavior.
—David Smiley, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Yimou Lee, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025
Trump hadn’t hired a kooky, maverick academic who happened to agree with him on tariffs, as has often been suggested.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for academic
Adjective
The Fort Worth Independent School District is in a crisis with regard to academic achievement, a deputy state education commissioner told a crowd of more than 100 parents, teachers and community members during a community meeting Thursday evening.
—Noun
Zhang Chi, an academic at China's National Defense University, said the vessel can simultaneously launch attack helicopters, landing craft, amphibious tanks and armored vehicles.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for academic
Adjective
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Looking ahead, the family hopes to expand Lilo’s brand with educational content for kids, teaching basic concepts like shapes and numbers, while continuing to entertain sports fans around the world.—
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The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.—
Adjective
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But if nothing changes, the future of conservative politics will see much of the anti-semitic rhetoric as a badge of intellectual honesty.—
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With that being said, when Venus squares Pluto, the clash between emotional intensity (Scorpio) and intellectual detachment (Aquarius) is undeniable.—
Adjective
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In solving an 80-year-old chemical mystery, the researchers have not only answered a long-standing theoretical question but also expanded the toolbox of modern chemistry.—
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Beat writer Lauren Williams walks us through a few theoretical trades here.—
Noun
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Chinese research took a long while to recover from Mao’s purge of academe.—
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His ideas have particularly struck a chord with readers who deal in aesthetics—artists, curators, designers, and architects—even though Han has not quite been embraced by philosophy academe.—
Noun
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The museum, focused on the arts, history and technology, will draw tourists and scholars from around the world.—
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Other industries also had their assets taken away under Chávez's 14-year reign, and companies have filed at least 60 arbitration claims against Venezuela since the 2000s, according to Luisa Palacios, an adjunct senior research scholar at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy.—
Adjective
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Dunn wanted the property to be used as a scholarly and artistic retreat.—
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Rather than relying on decorative excess, the library’s pietra serena framework underscores its role as a working scholarly space.—
Adjective
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Forecasting revenues over a 99-year period stretches credibility, as economic models typically lose reliability within five years, making century-long projections speculative at best.—
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Government lawyers urged the court to dismiss the case, arguing no specific plaintiff has faced deportation or visa revocation and that any harm is speculative.—
Noun
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There’s little scaffolding or bridging, virtually no space given to centralized agencies, which most development academicians would agree still have their place.—
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Other founding principals include fellow academicians Andrei Shleifer and Robert Vishny.—
Cite this Entry
“Academic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/academic. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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