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
What begins as a skeptical pursuit of Richard’s double quickly devolves into an all-consuming obsession, unraveling Clare’s grip on reality and pulling her into a liminal nightmare where she is suspended between the living and the dead.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Airports themselves, liminal spaces that, normally, are pleasantly severed from the lurches of the world, spun out, too.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Mantello uses a 1948 draft of Arthur Miller’s script to reimagine the American masterpiece as a psychological drama unfolding in liminal space rather than a literal family home.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Kids can exist in this in-between place full of uncertainty and porousness and ambiguity and all kinds of liminal stuff that dead dull finished grown-ups find difficult to endure.
—Mac Barnett, Longreads, 5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for liminal
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Airports themselves, liminal spaces that, normally, are pleasantly severed from the lurches of the world, spun out, too.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
Mantello uses a 1948 draft of Arthur Miller’s script to reimagine the American masterpiece as a psychological drama unfolding in liminal space rather than a literal family home.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Kids can exist in this in-between place full of uncertainty and porousness and ambiguity and all kinds of liminal stuff that dead dull finished grown-ups find difficult to endure.
—Mac Barnett, Longreads, 5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for liminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liminal
Adjective
-
The collection is highly versatile, offering both subtle nods to the sport and head-to-toe outfits, all created in a patriotic color palette of red, white and a variety of blues.—
Kelsey Legg,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
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The actress, also known for Todd Haynes' film May December, later comments on that subtle addition in a May 2026 interview.—
Entertainment Weekly,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
And yes, that sound will dissipate and soon will be too faint for my human ears as it is absorbed into space, but Renee Gladman writes that spaces moan.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
The mission of a T-AGOS ship depends heavily on detecting faint underwater sounds produced by submarines operating hundreds of miles away.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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The sequence also brought back a glimpse at Storm Reid, who played Rue’s sister, and returned Nika King, who plays Rue’s mother, and included unseen footage of Rue and Fezco together in a tribute to Cloud.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
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The finale also features unseen footage of Cloud, who died passed away in July 2023 from an accidental overdose at the age of 25.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
The finish is short, with lingering notes of citrus, pepper, and a slight mineral edge.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
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That slight tweak—far from the grandiose promise of political revolution—might find power in the voters’ verdict.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
The line’s exact location has been ambiguous and sometimes invisible.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
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Budgets are decided by Congress, leases by agencies, and major decisions are usually shaped by factors invisible from the outside.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Liminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liminal. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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