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
According to a study in the National Library of Medicine, practices such as meditation, journaling and self-reflection have shown an ability to increase the gray matter of our frontal lobe and strengthening its capabilities.
—
Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
The third wild card is a parasite that feeds off your gray matter and replaces it with asbestos.
—Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 24 July 2024
First, neuroscientists are tasked with discovering the computational strategies at work in the brain’s squishy gray matter; then the data team will translate those strategies into algorithms.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 May 2017
Past studies have also examined changes in the brain during pregnancy, including the decreases in gray matter volume, as well as a reduction in brain size.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gray matter 
Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
The third wild card is a parasite that feeds off your gray matter and replaces it with asbestos.
—Grant Brisbee, The Athletic, 24 July 2024
First, neuroscientists are tasked with discovering the computational strategies at work in the brain’s squishy gray matter; then the data team will translate those strategies into algorithms.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 May 2017
Past studies have also examined changes in the brain during pregnancy, including the decreases in gray matter volume, as well as a reduction in brain size.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gray matter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gray matter
Noun
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Homegrown slugger Pete Alonso has continually made the most sense for New York, but his free agency has dragged on for months.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
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His confirmation hearing, set for Thursday at 10 a.m. EST, could provide a clearer sense of his priorities.—
Jonathan Lambert,
NPR,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Affinity's Co-Founder, Ray Zhou, wants to bring relationship intelligence to the world because every opportunity begins with a relationship.—
Ray Zhou,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
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Recap Ratcliffe also pledged repeatedly at his nomination hearing to focus more on the rising threat posed by China and to upgrade the agency’s technological capabilities to improve its intelligence collection efforts.—
Josh Meyer,
USA TODAY,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Franklin’s Pragmatic Idealism: Impact Over Ideology Franklin’s brilliance was not only in his intellect but in his ability to turn ideas into real-world solutions.—
Michael Sheldrick,
Forbes,
18 Jan. 2025
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Reeder’s a smallish winger (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) who relies on his on-ice intellect to navigate the ice, play off his linemates, find pockets of space and distribute.—
Scott Wheeler,
The Athletic,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The reason for the delay, says Goswell, was due to Lush’s lack of experience with electronics.—
Victoria Turk,
WIRED,
26 Jan. 2025
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One reason for this is that the series was shot on the streets of New York, unusual at the time.—
Glynnis MacNicol,
Rolling Stone,
26 Jan. 2025
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 30 Jan. 2025.
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