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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Shown as the second look on the runway during Paris Couture Week in early July 2026, the ethereal dress was designed with an hourglass shape in cascading ivory fabric. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 29 July 2026 Crave released first look photos earlier this week, showing Moss and Williams in a near kiss, Backo and Reid seemingly chasing down something or someone and Moss looking equal parts ethereal and spooky alone in the woods. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2026 Indeed, there is more than a hint of The Virgin Suicides to this trend, but modern styling is all about bringing the ethereal look back down to earth. — Joy Montgomery, Vogue, 23 July 2026 Or take Zendaya’s ethereal Athena, the one god seen in Nolan’s adaptation. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 20 July 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
  • Between these firsthand testimonies from veterans, his own medical miracle, and the spiritual experience, Perry became convinced that helping legitimize ibogaine should be his life’s mission.
    — Michelle Lhooq, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
  • His research has included brain scans of people in prayer, meditation, rituals, and trance states, as well as surveys of people's spiritual experiences and attitudes.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of spiritual
Adjective
  • The breakfast buffet features Japanese items like vegetable curry, onsen eggs, natto and miso soup, along with fluffy taro pancakes topped with coconut or guava syrup, quiches and local fruits.
    — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 3 Aug. 2026
  • In separate large bowl of electric mixer beat together softened butter (1 stick) and 3/4 cup sugar at medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
    — Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of fluffy
Adjective
  • While Europe will experience a total solar eclipse, millions of Americans will instead witness a partial solar eclipse followed by the annual Perseid meteor shower, creating an unusual back-to-back celestial spectacle.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Advertisement Muller suggests the best time to watch the celestial event is after midnight, but advises heading to an area with low light pollution.
    — Callum Sutherland, Time, 7 Aug. 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
  • To map out these heavenly realms takes a certain amount of ego and pollyannaism otherwise absent from Reilly’s worldview.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
  • The actress, 29, wore a heavenly floor-length white gown sourced from French fashion house Matières Fécales to the red carpet at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on Tuesday, July 14.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026
Definition of heavenly
Adjective
  • Described as a metaphysical nocturnal taxi ride rather than a documentary, the visual companion was filmed in Ghent and at a train station in Muizen, Belgium.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 31 July 2026
  • The war on language is more metaphysical than just the policing of proper social justice terminology, Williams argues.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of metaphysical
Adjective
  • Selena Gomez looked angelic in a white lace off-the-shoulder slip dress.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 28 July 2026
  • Best known for his angelic voice that plays on R&B and pop, WONHO seems to be testing out something new, bordering on dance, EDM, club, house, mellow pop, and hyper-pop.
    — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of angelic
Adjective
  • The actor went on to appear in Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, Oliver Stone’s Savages, and the FX series The Bridge, and most recently supernatural horror Black Phone 2 and Andy Garcia’s Diamond.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Blending horror with comedy, the Apple TV show takes place in a fictitious New England island town afflicted by a centuries-old curse that brings about supernatural evils.
    — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 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 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of ethereal for Spanish Speakers

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