The combined intelligence and mental effort available for understanding or solving something.
Reach for it when praising cognitive ability applied to a demanding problem
The rescue plan required local knowledge as well as considerable brainpower.
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday |
|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
playful
cerebral firepower
Fits when exceptional analytical strength invites a vivid phrase
Not when the praise should not sound competitive or militarized
playful
smarts
Fits when practical intelligence suits informal praise
Not when the context calls for respectful formal language
warm
collective wisdom
Fits when experience and judgment from many people matter
Not when technical reasoning rather than mature judgment did the work
warm
Fits when inventive problem-solving produces the result
Not when raw analytical capacity rather than creativity is praised
professional
Fits when general capacity to learn and reason is meant
Not when applied mental effort from a group is central
professional
mental capacity
Fits when ability should be described neutrally
Not when lively recognition of effort is wanted
formal
intellect
Fits when developed reasoning ability deserves emphasis
Not when an informal energetic tone is preferred
raw brainpower
Raw brainpower alone could not replace careful listening.
collective brainpower
The workshop brought collective brainpower to a stubborn drainage problem.
need brainpower
We need brainpower from several disciplines before choosing a design.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Flame, not lame, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Updated
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