ethereal

adjective

i-ˈthir-ē-əl How to pronounce ethereal (audio)
Definition of etherealnext
1
as in spiritual
not composed of matter that ethereal attribute that every performer should have—charisma

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fluffy
resembling air in lightness the bakery's scrumptious pastries have a wonderfully ethereal consistency

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in celestial
of, relating to, or suggesting heaven described as a land of ethereal beauty and tranquility

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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 ethereal Then, just to keep us guessing, Pugh attended a press event at New York’s Paley Center in an ethereal all-white Erdem gown, a personification of symbolic innocence. — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026 The ethereal experience continues with full on flavors of kumquat, Bartlett pear, mandarin orange, apple, and brilliant acidity in the finish. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2026 After her brief talk, the music starts up — an ethereal, energetic mix of electronica, African rhythms and pop — and the circle dissolves into free-form dance. — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 Slayyyter Nominee Slayyyter was an ethereal queen in a beige asymmetrical dress and Cristahlea heels. — Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ethereal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ethereal
  1. spiritual
  2. fluffy
  3. celestial
  4. incorporeal
  5. heavenly
  6. metaphysical
  7. angelic
  8. supernatural
Adjective
  • This is a tranquil boutique hotel in the spiritual heart of Bali.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Garfield’s Altman is going for a different kind of spiritual truth.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of spiritual
Adjective
  • Hermes products, plush robes, and fluffy towels await in the spacious bathrooms.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Striking polka dahlias with cream petals edged in cranberry and fluffy yellow centers brought bursts of color to the ballroom.
    — Paul Chi, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of fluffy
Adjective
  • Every nightfall is different — different seasonal colors, angels, weather, celestial glows, grasses and shadows.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The two planets clashed for the first time on September 15, when Venus was in its pre-retrograde shadow; these celestial forces meet again on October 20, with a final standoff on December 9 during the post-retrograde period.
    — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of celestial
Adjective
  • Followers of the Abrahamic religions are supposed to treat God as immaterial and incorporeal, yet these early Yahweh worshippers imagined him as fully embodied.
    — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Positioned as a large-scale genre event, the series updates the legendary SFX property with a contemporary political and social edge, with Shun Oguri leading the cast as a detective hunting a seemingly incorporeal killer.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
Definition of incorporeal
Adjective
  • The duo think they’re headed to the heavenly afterlife only to arrive at the office of the Devil (voiced by Culkin), who seems overwhelmed by his job.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
  • To qualify for beatification, the Vatican normally requires one miracle attributable to the faithful seeking the candidate's heavenly prayers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of heavenly
Adjective
  • Our work re-imagines these ancient tombs as theatrical spaces, built to perpetuate a form of metaphysical human experience.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Erectile dysfunction is a medical symptom and another metaphysical clue.
    — Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of metaphysical
Adjective
  • In the greatest misfortune of a very unlucky life, Fantine (Noémie Merlant) stops at the tavern the Thénardiers run on her way to Montreuil with her angelic daughter Cosette.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Folklore Taylor Swift Folklore’s angelic aura is best captured with gauzy peasant dresses, soft boho details, and a touch of woodland whimsy.
    — Zoe Weiner, StyleCaster, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of angelic
Adjective
  • Nyla Innuksuk’s supernatural thriller In the Heart of the South is the latest Canadian indie aiming to reclaim indigenous storytelling and representation in movie theaters.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Over a span of nearly 20 years and thousands of different writers, the writing has not been contained to a single, cohesive canon, but everything is at least centered around this organization investigating supernatural anomalies from everyday items.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of supernatural

Browse Nearby Words

eternity
ethereal
ethereality
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Cite this Entry

“Ethereal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ethereal. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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