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
Comments Director and former actor Ron Howard may have landed his first series regular gig on The Andy Griffith Show at the ripe old age of 5, but even a preternatural talent may get rusty.
—
Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 21 Apr. 2025
There, his preternatural musical ability sets off a chain of supernatural events.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 19 Apr. 2025
Anastasio spoke about the experience with an almost preternatural gratitude.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Kaufman had a preternatural ability to remain unperturbed by time passing, even when his audience became disgruntled, hostile or upset.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preternatural
Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 21 Apr. 2025
There, his preternatural musical ability sets off a chain of supernatural events.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 19 Apr. 2025
Anastasio spoke about the experience with an almost preternatural gratitude.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Kaufman had a preternatural ability to remain unperturbed by time passing, even when his audience became disgruntled, hostile or upset.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preternatural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preternatural
Adjective
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But what goes unmentioned—what stands in opposition to the siblings’ code of self-optimization and principled bodysurfing—is that their father’s success grew from the soil of an extraordinary season of public investment.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
22 May 2025
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Now, after years of hard work and harder drinking, Bruce (an extraordinary Bill Camp) has early onset dementia.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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But things are brewing around another movie title, the 2022 supernatural horror thriller What Lies Beneath, which Johnson executive produced.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
30 May 2025
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More than just a haunted house novel, this is a supernatural psychological thriller.—
Gabino Iglesias,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Peter Dinklage plays the title role, a janitor who becomes a CEO-fighting vigilante after falling into toxic waste and transforming into a mutant with superhuman size and strength.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Time,
16 May 2025
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Seriously, some of his recoveries seem superhuman, like film of prime Carl Lewis was spliced into the game tape.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In an unusual step earlier this month, five former directors of the National Weather Service signed an open letter warning that the Trump administration’s cuts to the weather service and its parent agency NOAA may endanger lives.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
27 May 2025
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Listen to this article The Rent Guidelines Board lowered the range of potential rent increases for some 2 million New Yorkers in an unusual redo vote Tuesday — a move that comes as the issue of freezing rents has taken center stage in the contentious mayoral race.—
Téa Kvetenadze,
New York Daily News,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Hudson is best known for playing paranormal exterminator Winston Zeddemore in 1984's Ghostbusters, its 1989 sequel, 2021's Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and 2024's Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
16 May 2025
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Though no official explanations tie paranormal activity to any of the more than 200 deaths reported since 1994, the frequency and nature of fatal incidents have reinforced its haunted reputation.—
Jenna deJong,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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As an escaped convict posing as a beloved preacher, and as his gentle, upright twin, Robeson embodies a devastating split between appearance and truth, and whose uncanny doubling plays out in a community shaped by racial violence, spiritual deception, and economic precarity.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
21 May 2025
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Many of these films, the recent Snow White most nefarious amongst them, are leaden with uncanny valley CGI, bizarre green screen devotion and a surprising lack of artistic intent.—
Gregory Nussen,
Deadline,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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All of our leathers are carefully selected from the finest tanneries in the world for their exceptional quality and functional capability.—
Felicity Carter,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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The site is exceptional: The North Branch of the Chicago River winds through its full length, offering an opportunity to weave parkland through the development.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
1 June 2025
Adjective
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Plus, the music is still transcendental across the board.—
David Jagneaux,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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From transcendental meditation to online shopping, these are the pop star's must-haves for touring.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preternatural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preternatural. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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