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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective phenomenal contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of phenomenal are corporeal, material, objective, physical, and sensible. While all these words mean "of or belonging to actuality," phenomenal applies to what is known or perceived through the senses rather than by intuition or rational deduction.

scientists concerned with the phenomenal world

When would corporeal be a good substitute for phenomenal?

Although the words corporeal and phenomenal have much in common, corporeal implies having the tangible qualities of a body such as shape, size, or resistance to force.

artists have portrayed angels as corporeal beings

When could material be used to replace phenomenal?

The synonyms material and phenomenal are sometimes interchangeable, but material implies formation out of tangible matter; used in contrast with spiritual or ideal it may connote the mundane, crass, or grasping.

material values

When is objective a more appropriate choice than phenomenal?

The meanings of objective and phenomenal largely overlap; however, objective may stress material or independent existence apart from a subject perceiving it.

no objective evidence of damage

When is it sensible to use physical instead of phenomenal?

The words physical and phenomenal are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, physical applies to what is perceived directly by the senses and may contrast with mental, spiritual, or imaginary.

the physical benefits of exercise

In what contexts can sensible take the place of phenomenal?

While the synonyms sensible and phenomenal are close in meaning, sensible stresses the capability of readily or forcibly impressing the senses.

the earth's rotation is not sensible to us

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 phenomenal His skill set is phenomenal and his IQ is better than what a lot of people give him credit for. Cj Moore, New York Times, 19 June 2025 And that experience was phenomenal in terms of learning, rebuilding a company, putting in new leadership, re-IPOing it, and then selling it at a premium. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 June 2025 Building around these unchanging customer desires has driven Amazon's phenomenal success. Manjot Pal, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025 While Haliburton was ineffective, backup point guard T.J. McConnell was phenomenal, putting up 18 points. Ryan Stano, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for phenomenal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phenomenal
Adjective
  • These bargain hunters will sometimes go to extraordinary lengths to find a deal.
    Linnea Geiss, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • The book chronicles Rajamani’s extraordinary survival from a massive brain hemorrhage at age 25, tackling themes of disability, race, and cultural taboos.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • AIs can consider more factors in their decisions than humans can, and this can endow them with superhuman performance on specialized tasks.
    Bruce Schneier, The Conversation, 16 June 2025
  • With his sword, superhuman strength, and loyal friends, He-Man defends Eternia and the secrets of Castle Grayskull from the forces of the evil sorcerer Skeletor.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 15 June 2025
Adjective
  • On the pitching side, Tampa Bay’s greatest advantage has been exceptional durability.
    Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • Danny Boyle is a director known for his exceptional use of music to score key — and now iconic — scenes in his films.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • That the vice president would be more amusing with less hair, a perfectly rounded face, and an uncanny, doll-like stare?
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2025
  • In Girls with Long Shadows, the triplets are linked by that uncanny psychological and physical sibling familiarity; if one sister has a headache, the other two’s temples pulse with empathetic pain.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • Finally, real-time monitoring can detect unusual activity, such as multiple login attempts or access from unfamiliar IP addresses, allowing organizers to respond quickly to potential threats. 3.
    Michele Dobnikar, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • There was an unusual silence surrounding Sacramento’s apparent acquisition of Dennis Schroder on Monday after the Kings reportedly reached an agreement with the free agent point guard.
    Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • There's also a nod to the narrator's wife making an unexpected comeback late on, though Robbie's miraculous/implausible (delete as appropriate) return from the dead stretches credibility way past breaking point.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 29 June 2025
  • Considering her herculean effort and miraculous success, the speediness of her undoing is stunning.
    Literary Hub June 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Bouygues-Murphy The central tunnel's three-lane design is notable for a unique underdeck systems arrangement.
    Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
  • While all the locations will have signature LPM dishes, each of the new openings will be unique.
    Rachel Dube, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • Many climate researchers consider this magical thinking.
    Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Anyone who listens to the Randolphs, who live on the property of the Clyde Butcher Big Cypress Gallery, will get an earful on how beautiful, magical and serene the Big Cypress National Preserve is.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Phenomenal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phenomenal. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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