as in sense
the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems
she's got the gray matter to figure that equation out
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Recent Examples of gray matter
Nevertheless, its spread is troubling because the virus can lead to a rare and debilitating neurological condition called acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM.
AFM attacks motor neurons in the spinal cord’s gray matter, which controls movement.
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Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2024
By the ninth week of pregnancy, the authors found widespread decreases in gray matter volume and thickness of the cerebral cortex, especially in regions such as the default mode network, which is associated with social cognitive functions.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 16 Sep. 2024
One study shows more gray matter in the portions of the brain that deal with attention, auditory processing, emotional stimulus, and recognition in the brains of people with high IQs than in the brains of the control group.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 14 Aug. 2024
Brain scans showed those who received liraglutide lost nearly 50% less volume in the frontal, temporal, parietal and total gray matter − areas of the brain that control memory, learning, language and decision making.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for gray matter 
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2024
By the ninth week of pregnancy, the authors found widespread decreases in gray matter volume and thickness of the cerebral cortex, especially in regions such as the default mode network, which is associated with social cognitive functions.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 16 Sep. 2024
One study shows more gray matter in the portions of the brain that deal with attention, auditory processing, emotional stimulus, and recognition in the brains of people with high IQs than in the brains of the control group.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 14 Aug. 2024
Brain scans showed those who received liraglutide lost nearly 50% less volume in the frontal, temporal, parietal and total gray matter − areas of the brain that control memory, learning, language and decision making.
—Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for gray matter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gray matter
Noun
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The design will focus on early Santa Clara canning days, with Ainsley Family memorabilia to give it a sense of history.Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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People were waiting for roughly an hour and a half, and parking was extremely limited; this created a sense of repressed frustration in the air.The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Today, such a contest would be made all the more unpredictable given the complexity and ambiguity of measuring progress toward something so abstract as intelligence.Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
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The second episode illustrates the scope of the resources and intelligence operation required to identify and attempt to hunt him down.Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
Noun
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With a gifted intellect and a solid work ethic, her genuine kindness truly sets her apart.Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024
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Digital capitalism thrives on exploiting users’ time, intellect, and data.Gerui Wang, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Unfortunately, for this exact reason, the studios decided to steer clear of the second weekend of November, which means there’s nothing else to talk about.Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2024
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The reasons for the increase include lifestyle issues, particularly smoking, lack of physical activity, and alcohol abuse.Jianying Zhang, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near gray matter
Cite this Entry
“Gray matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gray%20matter. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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