liminal

adjective

Definition of liminalnext
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of liminal The series of videos was inspired by a meme created on 4chan in 2019, which has seen internet users uploading images of eerie, liminal spaces. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026 Weddings are like airports–liminal spaces that exist out of time and definable space. — Bobby Finger june 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2026 There are likely more of us than ever before stuck in this liminal state, trying to figure out when to stop IVF. — Heather Grossmann, Parents, 16 June 2026 This analysis connects the obsession with liminal spaces to many of Gen Zers’ experience coming of age during Covid-19. — Zoya Hasan, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for liminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liminal
  1. subtle
  2. faint
  3. unseen
  4. slight
  5. invisible
Adjective
  • Clinicians found real value in cases involving subtle fractures in the knees, feet and other extremities, where conventional X-ray findings were inconclusive or missed the fracture altogether.
    — Erez Meltzer, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Then there are the subtle vanilla notes like those found in Orb Oils’s Lenny fragrance, matcha in Le Labo’s, or, say, Flamingo Estate’s Prinsesstårta roll-on captures notes of marzipan like a slice of Sant Ambroeus Princess cake.
    — Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • With all those stars clumped together, even fainter globular clusters will typically be easier to spot than the smaller variety.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • For astronomers, these satellites would become a nightmare for observations, crowding out and obscuring fainter objects or even challenging the Milky Way’s prominence with their glare.
    — Arielle Frommer, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of faint
Adjective
  • Astronomers have discovered that a jet of plasma erupting from a distant supermassive black hole at near-light-speed is being gravitationally lensed by an unseen clump of dark matter.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Ariana Madix is teasing the upcoming Love Island USA Season 8 reunion and revealing that there will be an unseen footage show.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of unseen
Adjective
  • Storms could be severe, with a level 2 out of 5; a slight risk is in place.
    — Laura Bannon, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • However, recent August polling shows Democrats are making ground on Republicans — still within the poll's margin of error — but with Talarico having a slight edge over Paxton.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of slight
Adjective
  • Exercises involving public safety partners, facility operators, legal advisors, executive leadership and technical personnel often reveal procedural gaps that remain invisible during routine operations.
    — Bill Edwards, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The sector has spent decades treating this capital as either invisible or suspicious.
    — Alaa Murabit, STAT, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of invisible

Browse Nearby Words

limeys
liminal
limit
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Cite this Entry

“Liminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liminal. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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