1
as in extraordinary
being out of the ordinary
an editor with a preternatural sense of what will interest the book-buying public
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preternatural
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
With a five-octave vocal range, preternatural charm and a razor-sharp wit, Buckley’s extraordinary live performances at downtown clubs became the stuff of legend.
—Tony Gervino, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Terence Davies’s first three shorts are among the most accomplished debuts in film history, profoundly personal in theme and with a preternatural grasp of cinematic grammar.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preternatural
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
With a five-octave vocal range, preternatural charm and a razor-sharp wit, Buckley’s extraordinary live performances at downtown clubs became the stuff of legend.
—Tony Gervino, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Terence Davies’s first three shorts are among the most accomplished debuts in film history, profoundly personal in theme and with a preternatural grasp of cinematic grammar.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preternatural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preternatural
Adjective
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Every chapter has its own life, and this one has been extraordinary.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The extraordinary vote in November was to decide whether Kan, the Israeli public broadcaster and member of the EBU, could participate in the Eurovision 2026.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This a little closer to reality, despite being supernatural, and people fall in love in the real world all the time.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Oct. 2025
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And yet, after a series of further downward spirals that will dig this scalawag even deeper into a hole and some supernatural mumbo-jumbo, his luck curiously starts to change….—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That creates a gap between what the market thinks AI can do and actual performance, squeezing both businesses and—in the case of translators—workers caught between the promise of superhuman efficiency and the reality of often flawed machine output.—
Harry Booth,
Time,
6 Oct. 2025
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What went into choreographing a fight between two superhuman combatants?—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This is not unusual, because Mahomes teammates have done that in the past (notably Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and many others).—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
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Sometimes, Gatlin would also approve invoices from Georgia companies, which would have been unusual given that Jackson Health System and the Foundation usually work with South Florida vendors.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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From paranormal ghost tours to 5k races, there really is something for all types of travelers in Anoka.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Oct. 2025
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This paranormal investigator offers her expert advice on how to handle living with a ghost.—
Stephanie Stremplewski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Sigmund Freud defines the uncanny as the nagging presence of the familiar within the strange, the strange within the familiar.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
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These are essentially gothic works, in which bleary, nocturnal isolation opens a door to bizarre impulses and uncanny transformations.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Some of them waged it, encamping with the armies, cooking, cleaning, and nursing, and, in a few exceptional cases, grabbing muskets themselves.—
Jane Kamensky,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
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Misa, one of the rare players to be given exceptional player status from Hockey Canada, was taken under Haight’s wing.—
Joe Smith,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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 16 Oct. 2025.
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