intellectualize

American  

[in-tl-ek-choo-uh-lahyz] / ˌɪn tlˈɛk tʃu əˌlaɪz /

especially British, intellectualise

verb (used with object)

intellectualized, intellectualizing

1. to seek or consider the rational content or form of.

2. to make intellectual.

3. to analyze (something) intellectually or rationally.

4. to ignore the emotional or psychological significance of (an action, feeling, dream, etc.) by an excessively intellectual or abstract explanation.

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verb (used without object)

intellectualized, intellectualizing

1. to talk or write intellectually; reason; philosophize.

   to intellectualize about world problems.

intellectualize British  

/ ˌɪntɪˈlɛktʃʊəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to make or become intellectual

2. (tr) to treat or consider in an intellectual way; rationalize

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Other Word Forms

• intellectualization noun
• intellectualizer noun
• overintellectualization noun
• overintellectualize verb
• semi-intellectualized adjective

Etymology

Origin of intellectualize

First recorded in 1810–20; intellectual + -ize

Example Sentences

“If you’re able to intellectualize that information and verbalize, this isn’t for you,” she says.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I think I was trying to intellectualize my feelings to get away from being vulnerable,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times

Sit in the building that originated “The Sopranos” and “The Wire” and you feel a certain pressure to intellectualize your ideas, to overstress your originality.

From Los Angeles Times

You can sit back afterward and intellectualize everything, but when you’re watching it, even when it’s weird, it makes logical sense.

From Salon

I’m a psychologist and so the way I manage any negative feelings is to intellectualize: I think about the causes and context of a situation.

From Salon

Related Words

• appreciate
• consider
• figure out
• judge
• ponder
• reflect
• resolve
• speculate
• study