If you say that a book or discussion is highbrow, you mean that it is intellectual, academic, and is often difficult to understand.
...highbrow classical music.
He presents his own highbrow literary programme.
Synonyms: intellectual, cultured, sophisticated, deep More Synonyms of highbrow
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe someone as highbrow, you mean that they are interested in serious subjects of a very intellectual nature, especially when these are difficult to understand.
Highbrow critics sniff that the programme was 'too sophisticated' to appeal to mostviewers.
Highbrow is also a noun.
...the sniggers of the highbrows.
More Synonyms of highbrow
highbrow in British English
(ˈhaɪˌbraʊ) often derogatory
noun
1.
a person of scholarly and erudite tastes
adjective also: highbrowed
2.
appealing to highbrows
highbrow literature
highbrow in American English
(ˈhaɪˌbraʊ)
US
noun
1.
a person having or affecting highly cultivated, intellectual tastes; intellectual
adjective
2.
of or for a highbrow
▶ USAGE: Often a pejorative term
Examples of 'highbrow' in a sentence
highbrow
He has filmed a series of highbrow dramas in the past two years.
The Sun (2012)
There is no reason why a serious approach should not be taken to popular, as well as highbrow, culture.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Pity the highbrow drama fan in front of the TV at 9pm last night.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Quotations
A highbrow is a kind of person who looks at a sausage and thinks of PicassoA.P. HerbertThe Highbrow
(adjective)
Definition
a person with such tastes
He presents his own highbrow literary programme.
Synonyms
intellectual
They were very intellectual and witty.
cultured
He is a cultured man with a wide circle of friends.
sophisticated
Recently her tastes have become more sophisticated.
deep
cultivated
His mother was an elegant, cultivated woman.
brainy (informal)
highbrowed
bookish
Opposites
ignorant
,
philistine
,
unsophisticated
,
uninformed
,
shallow
,
unlearned
,
uncultivated
,
lowbrow
,
unintellectual
(noun)
Definition
concerned with serious, intellectual subjects
the sniggers of the highbrows
Synonyms
intellectual
teachers, artists and other intellectuals
scholar
The library attracts thousands of scholars and researchers.
egghead (informal)
The Government was dominated by self-important eggheads.
brain (informal)
I've never been much of a brain myself.
mastermind
Brahmin (US)
aesthete
savant
The opinion of the savants on this issue is not united.
brainbox (slang)
Opposites
illiterate
,
moron
,
philistine
,
imbecile (informal)
,
idiot
,
ignoramus
,
lowbrow
Quotation
A highbrow is a kind of person who looks at a sausage and thinks of Picasso [A.P. Herbert – The Highbrow]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of brain
Definition
an intelligent person
I've never been much of a brain myself.
Synonyms
intellectual,
genius,
scholar,
sage,
pundit,
thinker,
mastermind,
intellect (informal),
prodigy,
highbrow,
rocket scientist (informal),
egghead (informal),
brainbox,
clever clogs,
bluestocking (derogatory)
in the sense of cultivated
Definition
well-educated
His mother was an elegant, cultivated woman.
Synonyms
refined,
cultured,
advanced,
polished,
educated,
sophisticated,
accomplished,
discriminating,
enlightened,
discerning,
civilized,
genteel,
well-educated,
urbane,
erudite,
well-bred
in the sense of cultured
Definition
showing good taste or manners
He is a cultured man with a wide circle of friends.