as in celestial
of, relating to, or suggesting heaven
movie scenes set in heaven often suggest that harps are the favored instruments for empyrean music
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in sky
a dwelling place of perfect happiness for the soul after death
ascended into the empyrean after a life filled with good deeds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in utopia
an often imaginary place or state of utter perfection and happiness
most ticket buyers have no trouble envisioning the empyrean that winning the lottery would inevitably bring about
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of empyrean
Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
Larraín’s third subject, Maria Callas, despite being born to an ignoble family and having to face wartime poverty during the 1940s, was no stranger to the trappings of an empyrean existence, but in constantly having to live up to it, like Diana, her life met an untimely end.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Dec. 2024
The event, held high up in skyscraping event venue Glasshouse Chelsea, offered sweeping vista views of the Manhattan and New Jersey skylines meant to evoke the game’s new empyrean setting.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2023
At their best, Harjo’s poems inform each other, linking her different modes, facilitating her tendency to zoom from a personal experience to a more empyrean one.
—Maya Phillips, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2019
Louis leaves Prior, drawing the first line in a pattern of abandonment that informs the entire play, and finally stretches all the way into the empyrean kingdom of an absent God.
—Ben Brantley, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2018
Our badges looked different, we were afforded fewer privileges, and we were certainly kept in the dark about The Algorithm (pause for heavenly-choir noise effect) and other such empyrean secrets.
—Lucas Peterson, GQ, 22 May 2017
Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2022
Magical empyrean is mundane Earth.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2022
They are concealed in the empyrean.
—Frank Wilczek, WSJ, 14 Oct. 2021
O’Keeffe places the viewer aloft, level with the bone, high up in the empyrean.
—Roxana Robinson, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2021
That could quickly propel a few black schools into the athletic empyrean, and change the place of HBCUs in American culture.
—Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2019
Adjective
In October, with three more of her novels now available in English and at least 20 other languages, the Swedish Academy awarded Han the Nobel Prize, elevating her to the empyrean realm reserved for writers of what is sometimes called world literature.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
Larraín’s third subject, Maria Callas, despite being born to an ignoble family and having to face wartime poverty during the 1940s, was no stranger to the trappings of an empyrean existence, but in constantly having to live up to it, like Diana, her life met an untimely end.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 15 Dec. 2024
The event, held high up in skyscraping event venue Glasshouse Chelsea, offered sweeping vista views of the Manhattan and New Jersey skylines meant to evoke the game’s new empyrean setting.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2023
At their best, Harjo’s poems inform each other, linking her different modes, facilitating her tendency to zoom from a personal experience to a more empyrean one.
—Maya Phillips, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2019
Louis leaves Prior, drawing the first line in a pattern of abandonment that informs the entire play, and finally stretches all the way into the empyrean kingdom of an absent God.
—Ben Brantley, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2018
Our badges looked different, we were afforded fewer privileges, and we were certainly kept in the dark about The Algorithm (pause for heavenly-choir noise effect) and other such empyrean secrets.
—Lucas Peterson, GQ, 22 May 2017
Noun
Betts is part of the Sox Sensation club with Fred Lynn and Nomar Garciaparra, all wildly popular and productive players who turned out to be supernovas streaking across the Boston baseball empyrean instead of franchise polestars.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2022
Magical empyrean is mundane Earth.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2022
They are concealed in the empyrean.
—Frank Wilczek, WSJ, 14 Oct. 2021
O’Keeffe places the viewer aloft, level with the bone, high up in the empyrean.
—Roxana Robinson, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2021
That could quickly propel a few black schools into the athletic empyrean, and change the place of HBCUs in American culture.
—Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for empyrean
Adjective
-
Another one of Orion’s celestial hallmarks is the bright star Betelgeuse in the upper left corner of the hunter.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Skywatchers will be able to start the new year off with a spectacular celestial sighting.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If the sky becomes menacing and thunder becomes audible, seek out a safe place to seek shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
-
On first-and-goal, Benjamin soared into the Rose Bowl sky for Jameis Winston’s lob into the end zone.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Perhaps within the speculative intersection of heterotopia and uchronia lies the realm of utopia—which may be the core of Urbano’s practice.—
Javier Montes,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
-
And while the utopias themselves flamed out, their ideas have influenced the generations after them, turning the town into a haven for art, architecture and culture.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Sold to Menemsha, studied in its craft, genuinely tense and gorgeously shot, highlighting the heavenly mountains and a historical hell.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The motions of the stars also exhibited a similar 24 hour period, as though the heavenly canopy rotated throughout the night.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Every year in late December, my childhood home transformed into a vision of American bliss.—
Andrew Fedorov,
The Atlantic,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Once all the holiday bliss ended, my family always made an annual trip to the store to quickly make our exchanges and returns and get more bang for our buck.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
With an award-winning restaurant scene, high-end shopping, and a Panorama Trail offering breathtaking views of the Rhine Valley for travelers of all facilities, Baden-Baden is a well-rounded paradise that redefines the spa town experience.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Seattle is an outdoor lover’s paradise packed with things to do in all four seasons, from summer hiking and fall leaf-peeping to winter snow sports and ambling around downtown in the spring, when the rain starts to ease up and summer crowds haven't yet arrived.—
Scott Bay,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Spirit Resonance is a gift of heavens, a natural talent one is born with.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Dec. 2025
-
Holt McCallany has been cast in a recurring guest role as the legendary Titan, also known as the Bearer of Heaven, who was condemned by Zeus to hold up the celestial heavens after the last Titan war against the Olympians.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Empyrean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empyrean. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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