as in magic
having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers
some have sensed a numinous energy in the landscape around Sedona, Arizona
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Recent Examples of numinous
In an old-growth forest, the beauty of old trees intertwines with the bodies of those trying to save them, creating something numinous.
—
Robert Moor,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Though also suspended, Bo Bardi’s building generously offers a sheltering agora for all people on the street rather than a numinous temple for rarefied art audiences.
—
Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
In this numinous world, visitors come by for death bed reckonings, and the CEO will have many scores to settle.
—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
30 Dec. 2025
Venus and Jupiter will also harmonize with numinous Neptune, adding a touch of magic to your union.
—
Valerie Mesa,
Peoplemag,
10 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for numinous
Robert Moor,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Though also suspended, Bo Bardi’s building generously offers a sheltering agora for all people on the street rather than a numinous temple for rarefied art audiences.
—
Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
In this numinous world, visitors come by for death bed reckonings, and the CEO will have many scores to settle.
—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
30 Dec. 2025
Venus and Jupiter will also harmonize with numinous Neptune, adding a touch of magic to your union.
—
Valerie Mesa,
Peoplemag,
10 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for numinous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numinous
Adjective
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That air should be JR’s vital collaborator — no complex and costly scaffolding for these magic mountains — is nothing new in Paris.
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After a six-year closure (alongside the larger hotel closure), locals are thrilled to see that their beloved spot is back and better than ever (Fulk wisely left all that was magic alone and gave the space a light glow-up).
Adjective
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The mystic chords that bind us together matter more than any policy.
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Operating within those parameters, the mystic outlands trend extends to some of the world’s most mesmerizing corners.
Adjective
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Dusty navy blue and shiny gold accents make this collection's decor feel even more magical.
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For over 40 years now, Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin has made some of the strangest, most beautiful movies in existence, films that replicate the magical qualities of cinema in its infancy, both paying tribute to Maddin’s influences and wryly satirizing them.
Cite this Entry
“Numinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numinous. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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