numinous

adjective

ˈnü-mə-nəs How to pronounce numinous (audio)
Definition of numinousnext
as in magic
having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers some have sensed a numinous energy in the landscape around Sedona, Arizona

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of numinous In an old-growth forest, the beauty of old trees intertwines with the bodies of those trying to save them, creating something numinous. — Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026 In this numinous world, visitors come by for death bed reckonings, and the CEO will have many scores to settle. — Emma Alpern, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025 Though also suspended, Bo Bardi’s building generously offers a sheltering agora for all people on the street rather than a numinous temple for rarefied art audiences. — Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026 Church’s numinous-sun-over-still-water routine had begun to look a bit like a shtick, equally applicable to scenes of the Hudson or those worked up from 20-year-old sketches of South America. — Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for numinous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numinous
  1. magic
  2. mystic
  3. magical
Adjective
  • That number is not a magic line, but a practical ceiling beyond which telescope losses begin to resemble other major technical disruptions.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026
  • This super-simple dessert performs a delicious magic trick in the oven—the berries sink and the topping rises, yielding a stunning summery treat.
    — Brennan Long, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
Definition of magic
Adjective
  • His guru, Ramakrishna, was a 19th-century mystic and spiritual teacher in Bengal whose teachings on the unity underlying all religions shaped the worldview Vivekananda would go on to spread globally.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 July 2026
  • In Mozart’s opera, Tamino, a prince in a fairyland of mystic temples and mystifying gods, relies on his supernatural flute that turn sorrow into joy to get him out of jams.
    — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026
Definition of mystic
Adjective
  • Travis Heying An almost magical experience Covering the World Cup in Kansas City has been one of the most euphoric experiences of my career.
    — Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
  • This young adult fantasy follows a 16-year-old who discovers a magical attack and realizes this new world of demons and mages has a connection to her mother’s death.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of magical

Browse Nearby Words

numerous
numinous
numinousness
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Cite this Entry

“Numinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numinous. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on numinous

Nglish: Translation of numinous for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about numinous

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