as in subtle
barely perceptible by a sense or by the mind
They studied how the subjects were affected by different sounds played at liminal intensity.
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Recent Examples of liminal
Language, we’re reminded, feels like a liminal space.
—
Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Throughout history, many cultures have viewed the winter solstice as a time when the veil between worlds grows thin—a liminal window where intuition sharpens and whispers from the universe arrive more easily.
—Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2025
Many people report feeling unsettled or haunted in liminal spaces, and some anthropologists believe this is because our bodies innately know we’re not supposed to dwell in them.
—Hazlitt, 10 Dec. 2025
With the sun and Venus moving through this liminal space in your birth chart, your solitude becomes sacred.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liminal
Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Throughout history, many cultures have viewed the winter solstice as a time when the veil between worlds grows thin—a liminal window where intuition sharpens and whispers from the universe arrive more easily.
—Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2025
Many people report feeling unsettled or haunted in liminal spaces, and some anthropologists believe this is because our bodies innately know we’re not supposed to dwell in them.
—Hazlitt, 10 Dec. 2025
With the sun and Venus moving through this liminal space in your birth chart, your solitude becomes sacred.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for liminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liminal
Adjective
-
The moments that could be regarded as direct criticism were rare and subtle.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The skirt is made with an intentionally creased texture and features a straight cut with a subtle flare at the hem.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
To observe the faintest and most distant objects in the universe, telescopes need dark, dry and stable skies, conditions that are increasingly rare on Earth.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Kabocha is usually dark green or orange with faint stripes or bumps on the outside, with vibrant orange flesh on the inside.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Martha Stewart,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Making people who’d gone unseen and unheard visible and audible?—
Rebecca Traister,
Vulture,
10 Feb. 2026
-
This fight is for young Jordan, who felt unseen and unheard at so many points in her journey.—
Jordan Chiles,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
On Friday, there was only a slight danger of avalanches in Slovakia's highest mountain range.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Sateen weave bedding also tends to have a slight sheen with a drapey design, and an opulent feel right out of the package, Brenot points out.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Expect fragrances to go heavy metal this year—or rather, invisible, light-as-air metal—as brands are using notes that bring materials like silver, gold, and steel to mind.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Another invisible threat to the lake and public health is microplastics.—
Theodore J. Karamanski,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Liminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liminal. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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