as in spiritual
not composed of matter
ghosts are supposed to be incorporeal
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Recent Examples of incorporeal
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
In fact, magical life has the potential to be even more radically incorporeal than our own.
—Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
Indeed, in stark contrast to the incorporeal nature of a digital image, each of Winant’s photographs is, in a sense, a discrete body: a fallible material entity that boasts a hidden physical history and that will compositionally deteriorate over time.
—Jessica Simmons-Reid, Artforum, 1 June 2025
Christ Jesus’ example shows us how to turn away from material definitions of life by getting to know God as incorporeal divine Life.
—Larissa Snorek, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Mar. 2025
To the casual observer, the data industry can seem incorporeal, its products conjured out of weightless bits.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2024
If reason teaches that God is incorporeal, this means that God has no body; God does not physically see, nor do people see God.
—Randy L. Friedman, The Conversation, 16 Feb. 2024
The digital files are incorporeal.
—BostonGlobe.com, 9 June 2021
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
In fact, magical life has the potential to be even more radically incorporeal than our own.
—Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
Indeed, in stark contrast to the incorporeal nature of a digital image, each of Winant’s photographs is, in a sense, a discrete body: a fallible material entity that boasts a hidden physical history and that will compositionally deteriorate over time.
—Jessica Simmons-Reid, Artforum, 1 June 2025
Christ Jesus’ example shows us how to turn away from material definitions of life by getting to know God as incorporeal divine Life.
—Larissa Snorek, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Mar. 2025
To the casual observer, the data industry can seem incorporeal, its products conjured out of weightless bits.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2024
If reason teaches that God is incorporeal, this means that God has no body; God does not physically see, nor do people see God.
—Randy L. Friedman, The Conversation, 16 Feb. 2024
The digital files are incorporeal.
—BostonGlobe.com, 9 June 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incorporeal
Adjective
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Related Stories The project will explore Gaudí’s life, inner battles and spiritual evolution, framing the architect as a radical creative force shaped by faith and an increasingly austere existence.—
Emiliano de Pablos,
Variety,
16 June 2026
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He’s also teamed with Sam Obey, Will Epstein, and Celia Hollander to explore drifting ambient music and spiritual jazz.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Simitthus, too, was designed for surveillance, discipline, and punishment—a place where the metaphysical machinery of incarceration was already in operation.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Nestled deep within the twisting metaphysical narratives and international wandering of Lux is a quick trip back to home base.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
2 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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After five seasons and nine years, the beloved, small-town, supernatural coming-of-age series is finally getting ready for its final bow.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Dec. 2025
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The Odyssey actress was rumored to make her MCU debut as Lilith in Blade, known in the comics as a key supernatural villain.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
6 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Beneath the surface, the invisible becomes visible as streams of bubbles rise toward the light.—
Michael James Rocha,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Dec. 2025
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We’re expected to manage our own emotional upheaval while also producing holiday magic for everyone else—coordinating meals, gifts, photos, traditions, social calendars, and the invisible labor of ensuring no one’s discomfort disrupts the festive spirit.—
Rebecca Soffer,
Time,
4 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The important things are often bodiless.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Yum no longer shares the same-store sales of the chain’s domestic business, implying that the segment is now considered immaterial to the company’s broader results.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
15 June 2026
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The challenge was to create something that feels almost immaterial, while still making a real shoe.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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In Ayurveda, Prana, the life force carried by the breath, is understood to nourish both the mind and body and can be viewed as a nonphysical substance, finer than oxygen.—
Trisha Swift,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
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In accounting, intangible assets are nonphysical possessions including such things as brands and intellectual property, software, mineral rights ‒ and contracts.—
Alexander Coolidge,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incorporeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incorporeal. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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