spiritual 1 of 2

adjective

ˈspir-i-chə-wəl How to pronounce spiritual (audio)
Definition of spiritualnext
1
as in metaphysical
not composed of matter a staunch skeptic and realist, he scoffs at the very notion of ghosts and other spiritual entities

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in religious
of, relating to, or used in the practice or worship services of a religion spiritual songs that have been sung by generations of worshippers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spiritual

2 of 2

noun

as in hymn
a religious song sang a spiritual at the funeral

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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 spiritual
Adjective
From a spiritual standpoint, money is considered to be an exchange of energy. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 Born in Mexico to a left-wing Catalan family, Adela’s spiritual and intellectual formation came from her grandparents, while her emotional nourishment was the realm of the housekeeper/nanny Paula (Teresita Sánchez). — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
Let’s go back to the first century, when Jesus united the physical and the spiritual. — Stephanie McCrummen, The Atlantic, 18 May 2026 Stanley had a songbook full of these, some spirited, some spiritual. — Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spiritual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiritual
  1. metaphysical
  2. religious
  3. hymn
  4. psychic
  5. sacred
  6. anthem
  7. supernatural
  8. psalm
Adjective
  • That Dante lived during both the 13th and 14th centuries — and that Tosches’ movements as his novel’s protagonist take place at the start of the 21st century — means nothing in Schnabel’s meta-metaphysical realm.
    — A.D. Amorosi, SPIN, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The war on language is more metaphysical than just the policing of proper social justice terminology, Williams argues.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of metaphysical
Adjective
  • Daurawa said all the couples had undergone screening and counseling before the ceremony and that all religious and legal requirements had been fulfilled.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The city today is excluded from hosting hundreds of religious, political, labor, sports and industry events each year due to lack of hotel beds.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of religious
Noun
  • The rugby union side’s is ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’, originally an African-American hymn sung by slaves in the United States in the mid-19th century.
    — George Edwards, New York Times, 31 July 2026
  • The hymn was dubbed by the NAACP as the Black national anthem in the early 1900s.
    — PJ Green July 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Definition of hymn
Adjective
  • The paranormal investigators soon come across a disgraced Catholic priest who claims to be experiencing psychic visions of a missing FBI operative.
    — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Season 1 will be centered around DC bad guy Gorilla Grodd, who has psychic powers and other skills after his encounter with an alien spaceship.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of psychic
Adjective
  • At the mountain's foothills is Dion, an ancient Macedonian sacred city where the Olympian gods were worshipped.
    — Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Each temple is considered a house of the Lord, where the teachings of Jesus Christ are reaffirmed through sacred ordinances, learning about life’s purpose and making covenants to follow Jesus Christ and serve others.
    — Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of sacred
Noun
  • His songs spanned from party anthems to deep social commentary.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Meshell Ndegeocello is taking one of the Eighties’ frostiest break-up pop anthems somewhere much warmer.
    — Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of anthem
Adjective
  • Related Stories The series follows Jimmy Frank (Franco), an eccentric ad agency CEO who projects confidence and humor while contending with risk and unresolved fallout from his past, including criminal and supernatural threats circling his company.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • And unfortunately for Tom — but luckily for the show’s fans — those supernatural forces have been reawakened, just in time for the summer tourist season.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of supernatural
Noun
  • But presiding over his daughter’s outdoor wedding helped, fulfilling another psalm’s promise.
    — Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
  • The word appears 71 times across 39 of the 150 psalms, especially in ones written by David.
    — Drew Goins, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
Definition of psalm

Browse Nearby Words

spirits (away or off)
spiritual
spiritualism
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Cite this Entry

“Spiritual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiritual. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on spiritual

Nglish: Translation of spiritual for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spiritual

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