intellectualize

UK: /ˌɪntɪˈlɛktʃuəlaɪz/ US: (in′tl ek′cho̅o̅ ə līz′)

Inflections of 'intellectualize' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

intellectualizes

v 3rd person singular (US & UK)

intellectualizing

v pres p (US & UK)

intellectualized

v past (US & UK)

intellectualized

v past p (US & UK)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•tel•lec•tu•al•ize  (in′tl ek′cho̅o̅ ə līz′), v., -ized, -iz•ing. 
v.t. 

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.

v.i. 

5. to talk or write intellectually;
   reason;
   philosophize:
   to intellectualize about world problems.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] in′tel•lec′tu•al•ise′. 

• intellectual + -ize 1810–20

in′tel•lec′tu•al•i•za′tion, n. 
in′tel•lec′tu•al•iz′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

intellectualize, intellectualise / ˌɪntɪˈlɛktʃʊəˌlaɪz/ verb

1. to make or become intellectual
2. (transitive) to treat or consider in an intellectual way; rationalize