genius

1 of 2

noun

ge·nius ˈjēn-yəs How to pronounce genius (audio)

ˈjē-nē-əs

plural geniuses or genii ˈjē-nē-ˌī How to pronounce genius (audio)

plural genii : an attendant spirit of a person or place

plural usually genii : a person who influences another for good or bad

He has been accused of being his brother's evil genius.

: a strong leaning or inclination : penchant

: a peculiar, distinctive, or identifying character or spirit

the genius of our democratic government

: the associations and traditions of a place

: a personification or embodiment especially of a quality or condition

plural usually genii : spirit, jinni

plural usually geniuses

: a single strongly marked capacity or aptitude

… had a genius for getting along with boys …

Mary Ross

: extraordinary intellectual power especially as manifested in creative activity

: a person endowed with extraordinary mental superiority

especially : a person with a very high IQ

genius

2 of 2

adjective

informal

: showing or suggesting great cleverness, skill, or originality : brilliant

Remember how genius Henry Winkler was on Arrested Development?

Entertainment Weekly

"I think Lindsey Buckingham's guitar playing is genius, and Stevie Nicks' voice is really unusual."

Justin Hawkins

As "genius" as the New York raver kids may be, it's in Britain that the mixing of fashion and club music in the nineties is at its most exciting.

Vogue

Did you know?

The Spiritual Origins of Genius

The belief system of the ancient Romans included spirits that were somewhere in between gods and humans and were thought to accompany each person through life as a protector. The Latin name for this spirit was genius, which came from the verb gignere, meaning "to beget." This sense of "attendant spirit" was first borrowed into English in the 14th century. Part of such a spirit's role was to protect a person's moral character, and from that idea an extended sense developed in the 16th century meaning "an identifying character." In time, that meaning was extended to cover a special ability for doing something, and eventually genius acquired senses referring particularly to "very great intelligence" and "people of great intelligence."

Example Sentences

Noun Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were great scientific geniuses. You don't have to be a genius to see that this plan will never work. He was a genius at handling the press. She's now widely recognized as an artist of genius. He's admired for his comic genius. My plan is simple—that's the genius of it. The genius of these new computers is their portability. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Owning a work made by a genius induces a feeling of connection—to something pure, and, perhaps, to the purer part of ourselves.

Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2022 Following Norm’s death, Kyle Smith and Daniel Tenreiro wrote (as did former NR staffer Teddy Kupfer) eloquently on the man’s life and genius.

Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 17 Sep. 2022 But even someone who knows nothing about tennis could watch Federer and see the artistry and genius at play.

Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022 Liszt worshipped Chopin as a genius, but his love was not returned.

Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 The show entailed a fictional character named Dr. Gregory House that was gruff, insufferable, and quite unconventional, yet he was portrayed as a medical genius that could ferret out the most obscure of diseases and ailments.

Lance Eliot, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 And don't forget that vegetables are great for stuffing, too—from main dishes, like these Salmon-Stuffed Zucchini Boats, to side dishes, such as these genius Stuffed Baked Tomatoes with Herbs.

Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2022 It could have been seen as genius or as, who cares?

Alan Light, WSJ, 7 June 2022 Released this week, the third chapter of jeen-yuhs crystalizes the myth of Kanye West as a creative genius stifled by a society that refuses to accept him.

Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2022 See More

genius

noun

as in wizard

a very smart person the 16-year-old college graduate was considered to be a genius

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

wizard
intellect
brainiac
wiz
whiz
thinker
nerd
brain
virtuoso
intellectual
savant
geek
polymath
master
sage
highbrow
natural
blue
bluestocking
polyhistor
crackerjack
Renaissance man
longhair
crackajack
ace

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

idiot
moron
imbecile
dunce
dolt
numbskull
dope
blockhead
knucklehead
dummy
pinhead
illiterate
ignoramus
goon
numskull
nitwit
fathead
dodo
hammerhead
lowbrow
fool
dumbbell
philistine
half-wit
ass
jackass
know-nothing
donkey
beast
clown
jerk
creep
snake
louse
heel
skunk
stinker
boor
cretin
cad
lout
cur
anti-intellectual
churl

as in talent

a special and usually inborn ability had a genius for remembering long strings of numbers had a genius for saying the wrong thing, no matter what the social situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

talent
knack
aptitude
gift
flair
bent
endowment
faculty
skill
affinity
eye
ear
tendency
mind
instinct
impulse
inclination
feel
propensity
power
predisposition
bias
head
predilection
capacity
penchant
disposition
competence
potential
proficiency
proclivity
capability
turn
way
touch
facility
nose
leaning
partiality
hang
habitude
forte
specialty
speciality
specialism

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

disability
incapacity
inability
weakness
handicap
shortcoming

as in aptitude

a habitual attraction to some activity or thing a genius for gambling over his head

Synonyms & Similar Words

aptitude
inclination
devices
tendency
knack
affinity
talent
affection
impulse
predilection
penchant
proclivity
predisposition
propensity
disposition
gift
bias
bent
addiction
flair
leaning
partiality
preference
turn
bone
habitude
appetite
like
prejudice
endowment
taste
idiosyncrasy
liking
eccentricity
fondness
singularity
fancy
quirk
partisanship
faculty
speciality
forte
habit
favor
peculiarity
trick
specialty
practice
one-sidedness
oddity
pattern
custom
convention
wont
routine
way
practise
kink

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

allergy
dislike
distaste
aversion
objectivity
disinclination
indifference
neutrality
detachment
impartiality
disfavor
disrelish
nonchalance
disliking
averseness
disinterestedness
apathy
insouciance
unconcern

as in self

the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others putting the needs of the individual before those of society is alien to the genius of the Japanese people

Synonyms & Similar Words

self
personality
nature
character
colors
tone
characteristic
constitution
essence
spirit
trait
singularity
temperament
composition
disposition
clay
complexion
sort
uniqueness
hallmark
soul
individuality
feature
attribute
distinctiveness
temper
distinctness
habit
property
makeup
substance
flavor
way
stamp
stuff
point
mark
interior
essentiality
metal
grain
savor
earmark
interiority
essentiality
savour

as in manifestation

a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) the giant tortoise would seem to be the very genius of the unfathomable ancientness that one associates with the Galápagos Islands

Synonyms & Similar Words

manifestation
essence
incarnation
icon
personification
image
avatar
abstract
epitome
externalization
model
realization
incorporation
objectification
soul
embodier
embodiment
personalization
personifier
exemplification
instantiation
quintessence
reincarnation
ikon
actualization
paradigm
exemplar
concretization
archetype
substantiation
pattern

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of genius are aptitude, bent, faculty, gift, knack, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

has no great genius for poetry

The words aptitude and genius are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

a mechanical aptitude

Bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

a family with an artistic bent

While the synonyms faculty and genius are close in meaning, faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

a faculty for remembering names

While in some cases nearly identical to genius, gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

the gift of singing beautifully

The meanings of knack and genius largely overlap; however, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

the knack of getting along

The words talent and genius can be used in similar contexts, but talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

has enough talent to succeed

单词	genius
释义	genius 1 of 2 noun ge·nius ˈjēn-yəs ˈjē-nē-əs plural geniuses or genii ˈjē-nē-ˌī 1 a plural genii : an attendant spirit of a person or place b plural usually genii : a person who influences another for good or bad He has been accused of being his brother's evil genius. 2 : a strong leaning or inclination : penchant 3 a : a peculiar, distinctive, or identifying character or spirit the genius of our democratic government b : the associations and traditions of a place c : a personification or embodiment especially of a quality or condition 4 plural usually genii : spirit, jinni 5 plural usually geniuses a : a single strongly marked capacity or aptitude … had a genius for getting along with boys … Mary Ross b : extraordinary intellectual power especially as manifested in creative activity c : a person endowed with extraordinary mental superiority especially : a person with a very high IQ genius 2 of 2 adjective informal : showing or suggesting great cleverness, skill, or originality : brilliant Remember how genius Henry Winkler was on Arrested Development? Entertainment Weekly "I think Lindsey Buckingham's guitar playing is genius, and Stevie Nicks' voice is really unusual." Justin Hawkins As "genius" as the New York raver kids may be, it's in Britain that the mixing of fashion and club music in the nineties is at its most exciting. Vogue Did you know? The Spiritual Origins of Genius The belief system of the ancient Romans included spirits that were somewhere in between gods and humans and were thought to accompany each person through life as a protector. The Latin name for this spirit was genius, which came from the verb gignere, meaning "to beget." This sense of "attendant spirit" was first borrowed into English in the 14th century. Part of such a spirit's role was to protect a person's moral character, and from that idea an extended sense developed in the 16th century meaning "an identifying character." In time, that meaning was extended to cover a special ability for doing something, and eventually genius acquired senses referring particularly to "very great intelligence" and "people of great intelligence." Synonyms Noun brain brainiac intellect thinker whiz wiz wizard See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Noun Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were great scientific geniuses. You don't have to be a genius to see that this plan will never work. He was a genius at handling the press. She's now widely recognized as an artist of genius. He's admired for his comic genius. My plan is simple—that's the genius of it. The genius of these new computers is their portability. See More Recent Examples on the Web Noun Owning a work made by a genius induces a feeling of connection—to something pure, and, perhaps, to the purer part of ourselves. Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2022 Following Norm’s death, Kyle Smith and Daniel Tenreiro wrote (as did former NR staffer Teddy Kupfer) eloquently on the man’s life and genius. Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 17 Sep. 2022 But even someone who knows nothing about tennis could watch Federer and see the artistry and genius at play. Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022 Liszt worshipped Chopin as a genius, but his love was not returned. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 The show entailed a fictional character named Dr. Gregory House that was gruff, insufferable, and quite unconventional, yet he was portrayed as a medical genius that could ferret out the most obscure of diseases and ailments. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 And don't forget that vegetables are great for stuffing, too—from main dishes, like these Salmon-Stuffed Zucchini Boats, to side dishes, such as these genius Stuffed Baked Tomatoes with Herbs. Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2022 It could have been seen as genius or as, who cares? Alan Light, WSJ, 7 June 2022 Released this week, the third chapter of jeen-yuhs crystalizes the myth of Kanye West as a creative genius stifled by a society that refuses to accept him. Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Noun Latin, tutelary spirit, natural inclinations, from gignere to beget First Known Use Noun 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Adjective 1924, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing genius a stroke of genius genius loci a stroke of genius genius loci Kids Definition genius noun ge·nius ˈjēn-yəs 1 : a very smart or gifted person 2 : great natural ability He has artistic genius. 3 : a very clever or smart quality The lads came … chattering all the time about Tom's stupendous plan and admiring the genius of it. Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Medical Definition genius noun ge·nius ˈjē-nyəs, -nē-əs plural geniuses or genii -nē-ˌī 1 : extraordinary intellectual power especially as manifested in creative activity 2 : a person endowed with transcendent mental superiority specifically : a person with a very high IQ genius noun 1 as in wizard a very smart person the 16-year-old college graduate was considered to be a genius Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance wizard intellect brainiac wiz whiz thinker nerd brain virtuoso intellectual savant geek polymath master sage highbrow natural blue bluestocking polyhistor crackerjack Renaissance man longhair crackajack ace Antonyms & Near Antonyms idiot moron imbecile dunce dolt numbskull dope blockhead knucklehead dummy pinhead illiterate ignoramus goon numskull nitwit fathead dodo hammerhead lowbrow fool dumbbell philistine half-wit ass jackass know-nothing donkey beast clown jerk creep snake louse heel skunk stinker boor cretin cad lout cur anti-intellectual churl See More 2 as in talent a special and usually inborn ability had a genius for remembering long strings of numbers had a genius for saying the wrong thing, no matter what the social situation Synonyms & Similar Words talent knack aptitude gift flair bent endowment faculty skill affinity eye ear tendency mind instinct impulse inclination feel propensity power predisposition bias head predilection capacity penchant disposition competence potential proficiency proclivity capability turn way touch facility nose leaning partiality hang habitude forte specialty speciality specialism Antonyms & Near Antonyms disability incapacity inability weakness handicap shortcoming 3 as in aptitude a habitual attraction to some activity or thing a genius for gambling over his head Synonyms & Similar Words aptitude inclination devices tendency knack affinity talent affection impulse predilection penchant proclivity predisposition propensity disposition gift bias bent addiction flair leaning partiality preference turn bone habitude appetite like prejudice endowment taste idiosyncrasy liking eccentricity fondness singularity fancy quirk partisanship faculty speciality forte habit favor peculiarity trick specialty practice one-sidedness oddity pattern custom convention wont routine way practise kink Antonyms & Near Antonyms allergy dislike distaste aversion objectivity disinclination indifference neutrality detachment impartiality disfavor disrelish nonchalance disliking averseness disinterestedness apathy insouciance unconcern See More 4 as in self the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others putting the needs of the individual before those of society is alien to the genius of the Japanese people Synonyms & Similar Words self personality nature character colors tone characteristic constitution essence spirit trait singularity temperament composition disposition clay complexion sort uniqueness hallmark soul individuality feature attribute distinctiveness temper distinctness habit property makeup substance flavor way stamp stuff point mark interior essentiality metal grain savor earmark interiority essentiality savour 5 as in manifestation a visible representation of something abstract (as a quality) the giant tortoise would seem to be the very genius of the unfathomable ancientness that one associates with the Galápagos Islands Synonyms & Similar Words manifestation essence incarnation icon personification image avatar abstract epitome externalization model realization incorporation objectification soul embodier embodiment personalization personifier exemplification instantiation quintessence reincarnation ikon actualization paradigm exemplar concretization archetype substantiation pattern Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of genius are aptitude, bent, faculty, gift, knack, and talent. While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability. has no great genius for poetry The words aptitude and genius are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it. a mechanical aptitude Bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability. a family with an artistic bent While the synonyms faculty and genius are close in meaning, faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function. a faculty for remembering names While in some cases nearly identical to genius, gift often implies special favor by God or nature. the gift of singing beautifully The meanings of knack and genius largely overlap; however, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance. the knack of getting along The words talent and genius can be used in similar contexts, but talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed. has enough talent to succeed
随便看	differential grasshopper differential indexing differential locust differential motion differential operator differential piece-rate system differential psychology differential pulley differential rate differential refraction differential route differential screw differential thermometer differential threshold differential white count differential windlass differentially differentials differentiate differentiated differentiates differentiating differentiation differentiations differentiator

genius

noun

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing genius

Kids Definition

noun

Medical Definition

noun

noun

Synonym Chooser