Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective physical contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of physical are corporeal, material, objective, phenomenal, and sensible. While all these words mean "of or belonging to actuality," physical applies to what is perceived directly by the senses and may contrast with mental, spiritual, or imaginary.

the physical benefits of exercise

When is it sensible to use corporeal instead of physical?

Although the words corporeal and physical have much in common, corporeal implies having the tangible qualities of a body such as shape, size, or resistance to force.

artists have portrayed angels as corporeal beings

When is material a more appropriate choice than physical?

The words material and physical are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, material implies formation out of tangible matter; used in contrast with spiritual or ideal it may connote the mundane, crass, or grasping.

material values

When would objective be a good substitute for physical?

In some situations, the words objective and physical are roughly equivalent. However, objective may stress material or independent existence apart from a subject perceiving it.

no objective evidence of damage

Where would phenomenal be a reasonable alternative to physical?

The meanings of phenomenal and physical largely overlap; however, phenomenal applies to what is known or perceived through the senses rather than by intuition or rational deduction.

scientists concerned with the phenomenal world

When could sensible be used to replace physical?

The words sensible and physical can be used in similar contexts, but sensible stresses the capability of readily or forcibly impressing the senses.

the earth's rotation is not sensible to us

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 physical Need to know: Disappearance of Neanderthals Neanderthals inhabited Europe and Asia beginning about 400,000 years ago—but by roughly 40,000 years ago, physical evidence of them vanishes from the archaeological record. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 July 2025 For one thing, the agency that serves those with developmental, intellectual, physical and/or mental health challenges and covers Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, McHenry, northern Cook, western DuPage and parts of Will counties, relies on SNAP benefits to feed residents in its group homes. Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025 Over a decade later, the importance of lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, and sleep, in impacting both physical and mental health has become much more mainstream. Alexa Mikhail, Fortune, 20 July 2025 This year, Boissy was visibly in the best physical condition of his career, armed with a different mental approach to the game that fuelled his MVP run. Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for physical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for physical
Adjective
  • Bautista-Reyes illegally entered the U.S. in 2021 during the Biden administration and was arrested by the Wayne Township, New Jersey, Police Department May 3 for aggravated assault, attempt to cause bodily injury, terroristic threats and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes.
    Greg Norman, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2025
  • Brown had been facing two other charges — intentionally causing great bodily harm and mayhem, and physically abusing an elderly person — but those charges were dismissed as a part of the no contest plea, the outlet reported.
    Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 18 July 2025
Adjective
  • The project included demolition of the old bleachers, installation of the new ones and additional concrete work, Cheatham County School District Communications Director and Grant Writer Tim Adkins previously said.
    Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 25 July 2025
  • These concrete experiences create memorable application materials.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • So while many people may feel anxious on Mondays, only those with already high physiological stress seem to carry that anxiety into their biology, in the form of elevated long-term cortisol.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 July 2025
  • Discomfort also contributes to physiological learning.
    ESMT Berlin, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • Driven by online forums and influencers, meme stock surges can result in significant gains for some investors while causing substantial losses for short sellers.
    Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 26 July 2025
  • The cost overruns are substantial but, on the positive side, our Country is doing very well and can afford just about anything — Even the cost of this building!
    Anna Commander Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • Trump's war against the higher education establishment is long overdue and is already paying huge tangible dividends.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
  • Decision outcome improvement quantifies the tangible uplift in valuable results achieved when AI influences a decision, versus the baseline without it.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • But all of Caland’s brilliantly hued canvases are also fleshy and funny and female, in ways that speak of bold corporeal pleasure.
    Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
  • For corporeal creatures such as humans, grappling with a universe that might not be singular, time that moves in many directions, and matter that both does and does not exist is mind-bending, to say the least.
    Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • In 2022, the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 paved the way for alternatives to animal testing, and in December 2023, an NIH advisory committee made similar recommendations to develop non-animal methods.
    Rachel Fobar, Vox, 14 May 2025
  • Rendering is a process that transforms animal by-products, like leftover meat and fats...and yes, chicken feet, into usable materials, such as animal feed, fuel, and other industrial products.
    Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • The results showed that students with low differentiation — those who were more emotionally enmeshed with others — experienced higher social anxiety, fear of judgment, stress and more somatic symptoms like headaches, fatigue or physical tension.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
  • Her approach to stress and trauma aligns with a growing body of work in the somatic therapy field, which focuses on how the body stores and processes stress.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Physical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/physical. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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