1
as in extraordinary
being out of the ordinary
an editor with a preternatural sense of what will interest the book-buying public
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in supernatural
of, relating to, or being part of a reality beyond the observable physical universe
an investigator of preternatural phenomena
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in superhuman
being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature
a preternatural ability to predict how the stock market will perform
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preternatural
As a team with a ton of continuity, the Aces have almost a preternatural sense for one another on the court.
—
Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Game predictions Fowler, thanks to his preternatural understanding of this franchise’s flows and ebbs, somehow stayed perfect after the Panthers’ shutout win last week.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2025
Amid its farce, Ludlam’s play keeps an eye on the weight of a preternatural artistic gift.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Through a mixture of internet sleuthing, preternatural good taste and a willingness to do whatever is necessary, Matthew quickly elevates his way to becoming a creative and emotional sounding board for Oliver — even as the singer’s entourage increasingly looks at him as a phony.
—William Earl, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preternatural
Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Game predictions Fowler, thanks to his preternatural understanding of this franchise’s flows and ebbs, somehow stayed perfect after the Panthers’ shutout win last week.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2025
Amid its farce, Ludlam’s play keeps an eye on the weight of a preternatural artistic gift.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Through a mixture of internet sleuthing, preternatural good taste and a willingness to do whatever is necessary, Matthew quickly elevates his way to becoming a creative and emotional sounding board for Oliver — even as the singer’s entourage increasingly looks at him as a phony.
—William Earl, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preternatural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preternatural
Adjective
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Packed with extraordinary gorilla behavior never filmed before, this is a story of hope and joy.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Johnson’s ability to rapidly guide the Bears here registers as extraordinary.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Set in Hawkins, Indiana in the 1980s, Stranger Things starts with a true-crime mystery that quickly turns supernatural.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
7 Jan. 2026
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An epic with supernatural and epigenetic overtones, this debut novel looks like a feast of a story.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The near-term threat is not superhuman machines but the decline of thinking, feeling, and social humans.—
Ian Bremmer,
Time,
6 Jan. 2026
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McHale stars as Frank Shaw, an overqualified, over-opinionated Animal Control officer who has an almost superhuman ability to understand animals.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
28 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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This translation by Nancy Naomi Carlson preserves the rich musicality of the original French, as well as its frequent use of wordplay and often unusual word choice.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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Ostrich Leather Recognizable by its distinctive quill pattern and supple texture, ostrich leather combines durability with an unusual kind of beauty.—
Cortne Bonilla,
Vogue,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The plot revolves around the original gang fighting new monsters and unraveling a paranormal mystery terrorizing their town.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
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Though only a little over a decade old, The Conjuring is already considered by many horror fans to be one of the best paranormal films ever made.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Some of Lilo’s predictions have gone viral for their uncanny accuracy.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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There’s something uncanny about this still and stunning portrait of a twenty-one-year-old Taylor Swift, shot by Katy Grannan for Lizzie Widdicombe’s Profile of the singer, in 2011.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Together, these innovations position the D19 not only as a high-performance SUV but also as a vehicle engineered for exceptional control and confidence in a variety of driving conditions.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
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The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes Waubonsee graduates who demonstrate exceptional achievement and meaningful, ongoing contributions to their professions, communities and alma mater, the release said.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Dani Shapiro’s Signal Fires is a meditation on human connectedness that feels transcendental.—
Anna Bruno
September 19,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
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Recently, the director picked up transcendental meditation — a famous practice of the late David Lynch — from her friend, Vera Drew.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preternatural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preternatural. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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