Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective physical contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of physical are corporeal, material, objective, phenomenal, and sensible. While all these words mean "of or belonging to actuality," physical applies to what is perceived directly by the senses and may contrast with mental, spiritual, or imaginary.

the physical benefits of exercise

When is it sensible to use corporeal instead of physical?

Although the words corporeal and physical 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 is material a more appropriate choice than physical?

The words material and physical are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 would objective be a good substitute for physical?

In some situations, the words objective and physical are roughly equivalent. However, objective may stress material or independent existence apart from a subject perceiving it.

no objective evidence of damage

Where would phenomenal be a reasonable alternative to physical?

The meanings of phenomenal and physical largely overlap; however, 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 could sensible be used to replace physical?

The words sensible and physical can be used in similar contexts, but 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 physical Certain lifestyle patterns can also promote physical and mental wellness during autumn. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025 As Wu detailed, he mission will begin with an observer spacecraft approaching the target asteroid to conduct detailed surveys and collect precise physical data. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025 These absurd physical transformations are a direct product of our control over chicken’s genetics and environment. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025 The inscription may also be the first physical evidence of such an institution. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for physical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for physical
Adjective
  • The virus, which is spread by bodily fluids, is endemic in animal populations in Central and West Africa, and there are periodic outbreaks.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Chernyak, who came to the US last August, was arrested in January and charged with battery with bodily harm over what his common-law wife Oksana Tarasiuk told CNN was a misunderstanding exacerbated by a language barrier with police officers.
    Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The deeper Acosta dug, the more concrete his convictions became about how McCarthy’s standard — both for himself and others — would raise the expectations at IMG.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • One concrete action point is the social work done with prisoners in prison.
    Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • By reducing mental suffering, physiological suffering falls, too.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Acclimating to heat can prompt physiological shifts, including an increase in blood volume, an increase in sweat volume, and potential shifts in how efficiently your blood vessels respond to those alterations in volume and stress.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • OpenAI also says there is a 45 percent to 65 percent reduction in factual errors over GPT-4, depending on the setting, as well as substantial gains in handling medical and coding tasks on industry-standard benchmarks.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • One brother for at least $100,000 over the years, the other somewhat less but still substantial – new cars, medical bills and other things.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This new direction appears to be driven by a focus on non-interventionism overseas, unless deemed necessary to protect immediate and tangible American interests, and a skepticism of efforts to promote political change in other states.
    Time, Time, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Today, digital interactions rule, but Jacobs’ company is betting on a tangible item that people can hold, share and collect.
    R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • They are not meant to represent a particular person or gender, but a universal corporeal state.
    Grace Edquist, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Elizabeth never enters the movie in any corporeal way, but the presence of her spirit looms large over the entire gloomy tale, co-written by Jory Anast.
    Tomris Laffly, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • In 2022, the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 paved the way for alternatives to animal testing, and in December 2023, an NIH advisory committee made similar recommendations to develop non-animal methods.
    Rachel Fobar, Vox, 14 May 2025
  • Rendering is a process that transforms animal by-products, like leftover meat and fats...and yes, chicken feet, into usable materials, such as animal feed, fuel, and other industrial products.
    Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Both are very valuable, but my mind often overrides intuition or the nature of what my body knows, its somatic intelligence.
    Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Experiment with one small goal for this time to bolster mental and somatic wellbeing.
    Colin Bedell, Them., 26 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Physical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/physical. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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