: something intangible: such as
a
: an asset (such as goodwill) that is not corporeal
b
: an abstract quality or attribute
Synonyms
Examples of intangible in a Sentence
Adjective
Leadership is an intangible asset to a company.
electrical energy is completely intangible
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Paulson, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
But Lim remembers his young teammate possessing all the physical tools as well as an intangible quiet confidence.
—Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2024
The transition from in-person workers to virtual workers, and maybe eventually to AI, diminishes the intangible draw of dining out in a big city.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024
While traditional ownership is based on physical possession, digital garments exist as intangible assets.
—Verostina Antwi, Essence, 27 Mar. 2024
Several homeowners interviewed by The Times were ambivalent on the issue of gentrification, weighing the loss of community against the increase in value and an intangible —their sense of security.
—Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Curry’s also a winner, an intangible attribute Stutzman said helps in politics.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
The remaining half are dedicated to a more intangible battle involving spreading concern about government overreach and promoting liberty.
—Rachel Barber, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024
The increase in operating expenses is primarily due to additional costs incurred to operate Newswire, as well as an increase in bad debt expense and amortization expense attributed to intangible assets related to the Newswire acquisition.
—Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024
Mary Gaitskill, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
What are some of the intangibles that make Ferrari the winningest team in Formula 1 history.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024
Even intangibles, like copyrights and intellectual property, can be bought and sold at their owners’ discretion.
—Chris Dixon, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2024
At the other extreme are countries that would prefer to keep UNESCO’s paper-pushing hands off their intangibles.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2024
Job Search Variables Variables include tangibles like job levels applied for, number of jobs available in the field, salaries sought, and so on; intangibles include intensity of the search, quality of the candidate’s résumé, number of candidates, etc.
—Eli Amdur, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Beyond those recent credentials, Bednar likes the intangibles Parise brings to a talented team that won 13 times in 16 games before the extended All-Star Game break and has its sights on winning a second championship in the last three years.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 4 Feb. 2024
Portfolio companies say the deal comes with intangibles, like access to research teams and even the company’s famous CEO.
—Richard Nieva, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
His personality and approach could be excellent complementary intangibles for Young, who is much more reserved and even-keeled.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 26 Jan. 2024
Adjective
The new commercial Off Broadway ventures vary in content and tone but share the promise of an intimate experience (the houses are small, so the patrons tend to be close to the performers), a hip neighborhood (better restaurants and bars) and some kind of intangible quality of authenticity.
—Michael Paulson, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
But Lim remembers his young teammate possessing all the physical tools as well as an intangible quiet confidence.
—Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2024
The transition from in-person workers to virtual workers, and maybe eventually to AI, diminishes the intangible draw of dining out in a big city.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024
While traditional ownership is based on physical possession, digital garments exist as intangible assets.
—Verostina Antwi, Essence, 27 Mar. 2024
Several homeowners interviewed by The Times were ambivalent on the issue of gentrification, weighing the loss of community against the increase in value and an intangible —their sense of security.
—Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Curry’s also a winner, an intangible attribute Stutzman said helps in politics.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
The remaining half are dedicated to a more intangible battle involving spreading concern about government overreach and promoting liberty.
—Rachel Barber, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024
The increase in operating expenses is primarily due to additional costs incurred to operate Newswire, as well as an increase in bad debt expense and amortization expense attributed to intangible assets related to the Newswire acquisition.
—Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024
Noun
And yet most of us do compete over such intangibles at one time or another.
—Mary Gaitskill, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
What are some of the intangibles that make Ferrari the winningest team in Formula 1 history.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024
Even intangibles, like copyrights and intellectual property, can be bought and sold at their owners’ discretion.
—Chris Dixon, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2024
At the other extreme are countries that would prefer to keep UNESCO’s paper-pushing hands off their intangibles.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2024
Job Search Variables Variables include tangibles like job levels applied for, number of jobs available in the field, salaries sought, and so on; intangibles include intensity of the search, quality of the candidate’s résumé, number of candidates, etc.
—Eli Amdur, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Beyond those recent credentials, Bednar likes the intangibles Parise brings to a talented team that won 13 times in 16 games before the extended All-Star Game break and has its sights on winning a second championship in the last three years.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 4 Feb. 2024
Portfolio companies say the deal comes with intangibles, like access to research teams and even the company’s famous CEO.
—Richard Nieva, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
His personality and approach could be excellent complementary intangibles for Young, who is much more reserved and even-keeled.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 26 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intangible.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near intangible
Cite this Entry
“Intangible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intangible. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
intangible
1 of 2 adjective
in·tan·gi·ble
in-ˈtan-jə-bəl 
: incapable of being touched : having no physical existence : not tangible or corporeal
intangible
2 of 2 noun
: something intangible
specifically
: an asset (as goodwill or a patent right) that is not corporeal
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