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
Poem 1 carries forth Roxanne’s touchstones—choral music, new age, dream pop—into a liminal space that’s half-lieder, half-Grouper.
—
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 Mar. 2026
The production design by Annie Beauchamp (Top of the Lake, On Becoming a God in Central Florida) is both recognizably grounded and subtly weird, and the camerawork of Lol Crawley (The Brutalist) is attuned to the liminal disconnect as well as the saturated palette.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
From that liminal moment emerged Mohammad Khatami, a former culture minister steeped in philosophy and theology, and a committed reformist.
—Alex Shams, Time, 14 Mar. 2026
But more important still than this aesthetic dissonance is the lack, in Pajoufar’s set, of any liminal space.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for liminal
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 Mar. 2026
The production design by Annie Beauchamp (Top of the Lake, On Becoming a God in Central Florida) is both recognizably grounded and subtly weird, and the camerawork of Lol Crawley (The Brutalist) is attuned to the liminal disconnect as well as the saturated palette.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
From that liminal moment emerged Mohammad Khatami, a former culture minister steeped in philosophy and theology, and a committed reformist.
—Alex Shams, Time, 14 Mar. 2026
But more important still than this aesthetic dissonance is the lack, in Pajoufar’s set, of any liminal space.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for liminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liminal
Adjective
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And according to therapists, that distinction can be subtle but significant, often showing up in patterns that feel normal on the surface but are actually rooted in the need to feel chosen rather than the desire to truly know someone.—
Hana Hong,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The final drink had a subtle floral note with a hint of cinnamon that reminded me of horchata.—
Tristan Graziano,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Unlike total solar eclipses, which reveal the sun's faint outer atmosphere, annular eclipses are still a form of partial eclipse and require proper eye protection to view safely.—
Ryan French,
Space.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
One of these experiment models, ABRACADABRA, employs high-sensitivity radio to capture the faint hum of axion’s oscillating magnetic fields thanks to the close cooperation of UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Fuqua was sitting near the back of the theatre, unseen not only by Washington but also by the television cameras.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Other photos in the carousel showed Kourtney sunbathing in a black bikini, dinner dates, and sweet selfies, along with some unseen mommy and son moments between her and the pair’s 2-year-old son, Rocky Thirteen.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, walnuts lend a slight crunch throughout.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Cloud cover is forecasted to stick around all day, and temperatures are likely to top out in the low 80s this afternoon with a slight breeze from the south.—
Lauren Bostwick,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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After sweeping up broken glass, tiny, almost-invisible shards often remain behind.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Like all black holes, primordial black holes have mass and thus interact with gravity and are effectively invisible due to the fact that they are bounded by a light-trapping surface called an event horizon.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Liminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liminal. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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