Synonyms of immaterial

immaterial

adjective

ˌi-mə-ˈtir-ē-əl 

1

as in spiritual

not composed of matter

it is only possible to study immaterial forces like gravity by observing their effects on the physical world

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spiritual
• incorporeal
• metaphysical
• nonmaterial
• invisible
• supernatural
• nonphysical
• insubstantial
• psychic
• unsubstantial
• bodiless
• formless
• thin
• ethereal
• unbodied
• intangible
• impalpable
• gaseous
• tenuous
• vaporous
• diaphanous
• insensible
• airy
• wispish
• gossamery

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• physical
• substantial
• corporeal
• material
• tangible
• visible
• carnal
• animal
• observable
• bodily
• noticeable
• discernible
• detectable
• sensible
• palpable
• solid
• massive
• fleshly
• heavy
• bulky

2

as in irrelevant

not having anything to do with the matter at hand

while undoubtedly upsetting, that story is immaterial to the question of why you are late

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irrelevant
• inapplicable
• meaningless
• extraneous
• inapposite
• impertinent
• beside the point
• inappropriate
• irrelative
• incidental
• peripheral
• tangential
• unimportant
• neither here nor there
• useless
• moot
• insignificant
• inconsequential
• unsuitable
• pointless
• tangent
• inane
• dead
• empty
• senseless
• inapt

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• relative
• relevant
• pertinent
• applicable
• important
• material
• significant
• meaningful
• pointed
• germane
• apposite
• useful
• apropos
• appropriate
• sensible
• suitable
• apt
• fit

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of immaterial

To the casual observer, the look and feel of shipping containers suggests a world of smooth, lossless transportation, almost immaterial in its implementation of a logistical ideal. — Alexander Klose, Scientific American, 24 July 2026

The money, in Gupta’s view, is immaterial. — April Long, Allure, 24 June 2026

None of these readings are so emphatic as to render the others immaterial, and the pervading ambivalence paired with a steady but creeping pace could turn off viewers who just want a good mystery to solve. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 June 2026

Portofiro and the baroque universe surrounding it—communists on-world, techno-fascists offplanet, and all manner of augmentoids and spooks in the immaterial planes between—can make for a dizzying read. — Alex James Kane, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026