1
as in spiritual
not composed of matter
that ethereal attribute that every performer should have—charisma
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
The show opened with model Jasmine Tookes, ethereal in gold wings, cradling her nine-month-pregnant belly, among longtime Angels like Adriana Lima and WNBA star Angel Reese.
—
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 June 2026
Besides Apfel Strudel with hazelnuts, there’s a Sacher Torte that showcases the traditional chocolate with apricot preserves and an ethereal Salzburg Nockerl vanilla souffle with blueberry compote.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
In his work, women were still ethereal innocents who had yet to become believable human beings.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
These are tender, delicate miniatures—most of them between one and two minutes long—infused with an ethereal, exotic sense of romanticism.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ethereal
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 June 2026
Besides Apfel Strudel with hazelnuts, there’s a Sacher Torte that showcases the traditional chocolate with apricot preserves and an ethereal Salzburg Nockerl vanilla souffle with blueberry compote.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
In his work, women were still ethereal innocents who had yet to become believable human beings.
—Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
These are tender, delicate miniatures—most of them between one and two minutes long—infused with an ethereal, exotic sense of romanticism.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ethereal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ethereal
Adjective
-
The twice-weekly two-hour temazcal experience, led by a local Mayan shaman, guides participants through an ancestral purification ritual focused on physical and spiritual detoxification.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Ben Tzur understands the spiritual kernel of this process, having studied under Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar in the ancient dhrupad tradition, where rhythmic Vedic chants achieve a similar effect.—
Arman Khan,
Pitchfork,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
These fluffy, petite biscuits make the best accessory to any spread, especially when pimiento cheese or chicken salad is involved.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
3 June 2026
-
Bad mini cones are made with soggy cones and sweet, fluffy filling that has none of the unctuousness of real ice cream.—
Jolene Thym,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Neither celestial grace nor damnation, for that matter, governs history and the creatures who populate it.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
-
The signals, or long-period radio transients, are a class of celestial radio emissions discovered in 2005.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
2 June 2026
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
Adjective
-
Blue chrome powder takes this dreamy look into heavenly territory.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
23 May 2026
-
My Costa Rican Hammam Experience included a vigorous scrub-down on a marble slab in the steamy hammam that used a Costa Rican coffee bean exfoliator for a local twist, followed by a heavenly massage.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Andrews has continued to work on TV, including Sinbad, as Jafar on Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, and on the Wachowskis’ metaphysical epic Sense8.—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 May 2026
-
Huxley’s critique is clear; America mistakes body for spirit, promiscuously confusing the physical with the metaphysical.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Adjective
-
An early example of internet-viral fame, the then-47-year-old unemployed charity worker from rural Scotland delighted viewers and judges with her powerful, angelic voice and charm.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
One lucky superyacht owner just got a rather angelic delivery.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Obsession, a Toronto premiere that has since turned into one of the year’s unlikeliest box-office successes with rare, late-run weekend gains, traces how forbidden desire spirals into supernatural terror.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
-
Brodie explores the allure of the pop-cultural underdog and writes about her characters’ chemistry and near-supernatural connection in a way that makes improv seem like literal magic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ethereal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ethereal. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
