as in spiritual
not composed of matter
ghosts are generally thought to be nonphysical in nature
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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
Ansari answers crypto question with call for campaign finance reform
Ansari’s candidacy was boosted by a massive expenditure from advocates of cryptocurrency, the digital currencies that exist on nonphysical, decentralized ledger systems.
—Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 17 Oct. 2024
The second is Dualism, where there is a nonphysical or spiritual substance-such as a soul-that interacts with the brain and body.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for nonphysical
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
Ansari answers crypto question with call for campaign finance reform
Ansari’s candidacy was boosted by a massive expenditure from advocates of cryptocurrency, the digital currencies that exist on nonphysical, decentralized ledger systems.
—Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 17 Oct. 2024
The second is Dualism, where there is a nonphysical or spiritual substance-such as a soul-that interacts with the brain and body.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for nonphysical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonphysical
Adjective
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Nearly 4 million practice tai chi, and roughly 14% of adults practice some form of mindful or spiritual meditation.—
Samantha Agate,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
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Recently, church officials and sociologists alike have pointed to indications that young Spaniards are showing an increasing interest in their spiritual lives, with anecdotal reports of rises in conversions among young adults.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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Andrews has continued to work on TV, including Sinbad, as Jafar on Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, and on the Wachowskis’ metaphysical epic Sense8.—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 May 2026
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Huxley’s critique is clear; America mistakes body for spirit, promiscuously confusing the physical with the metaphysical.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Obsession, a Toronto premiere that has since turned into one of the year’s unlikeliest box-office successes with rare, late-run weekend gains, traces how forbidden desire spirals into supernatural terror.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
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Brodie explores the allure of the pop-cultural underdog and writes about her characters’ chemistry and near-supernatural connection in a way that makes improv seem like literal magic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Where things get a little weirder comes when Labbé introduces psychic powers into the mix.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
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If those with the strongest case to make against injustice could refuse the psychic consolations of victimhood, then there is something especially unbecoming in white Americans learning to speak the language of racial grievance.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nonphysical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonphysical. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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