nonphysical

adjective

ˌnän-ˈfi-zi-kəl How to pronounce nonphysical (audio)
Definition of nonphysicalnext
as in spiritual
not composed of matter ghosts are generally thought to be nonphysical in nature

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 nonphysical 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 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 For Dualism, how can something nonphysical interact with anything physical? — Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for nonphysical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonphysical
  1. spiritual
  2. metaphysical
  3. incorporeal
  4. supernatural
  5. psychic
Adjective
  • Only the Avatar, a spiritual figure reincarnated with each subsequent generation, can bend all four elements at once.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 24 July 2026
  • Bhajan clubbing has brought Hindu tradition to the dance floor, providing a sober and spiritual nightlife experience.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 23 July 2026
Definition of spiritual
Adjective
  • The war on language is more metaphysical than just the policing of proper social justice terminology, Williams argues.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
  • Varsha’s mysterious memories are apparently linked to a much larger set of crises, and in order to make sense of these connections, both Dinu and Ghosh will have to dispense with the material and tread into the metaphysical.
    — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
Definition of metaphysical
Adjective
  • 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
Definition of incorporeal
Adjective
  • Whitehead’s noirish début tells the story of a Black elevator inspector with supernatural gifts, who is framed for an accident amid a sectarian struggle to define the cities of the future.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
  • The Blumhouse production sees Chastain portray Ursula, a wife and mother, as well as a supernatural entity that haunts her family’s home.
    — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 21 July 2026
Definition of supernatural
Adjective
  • The subjectivity of the original tale thus becomes a kind of psychic landscape in Visconti’s film.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 July 2026
  • And Amthor the ‘psychic consultant’ and Sonderberg the ‘dope doctor’ are lesser figures in a novel in which no detail is left undescribed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of psychic

Browse Nearby Words

nonperishable
nonphysical
nonphysician
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nonphysical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonphysical. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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