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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hymn
a religious song
sang a spiritual at the funeral
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
But the pandemic cut short Juma’s plans to tell his children and grandchildren about their culture, music, traditional medicine and spiritual practices.
—Adriana Brasileiro, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Leo had refrained from any political commentary about guns in America, sending a telegram of condolence that focused exclusively on the spiritual.
—Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiritual
Adjective
Seven lawsuits filed this week in California allege that ordinary users seeking school help, spiritual reassurance, or simple conversation were instead drawn into psychologically damaging exchanges that ultimately preceded several suicides.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
But the pandemic cut short Juma’s plans to tell his children and grandchildren about their culture, music, traditional medicine and spiritual practices.
—Adriana Brasileiro, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
The course stands out for marrying the practical and the spiritual.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Leo had refrained from any political commentary about guns in America, sending a telegram of condolence that focused exclusively on the spiritual.
—Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiritual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiritual
Adjective
-
Beverly, a waitress who had another daughter and then a son in the two years after Smith was born (and eventually one more daughter), had little time for her eldest’s metaphysical ponderings.—
Amy Weiss-Meyer,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The film follows a young couple (Qualley and Starkey), who inherit a farm in rural Arkansas and must conquer the demons, both physical and metaphysical, that haunt its legacy.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This has given the conflict a religious coloration, and political elites have also chosen to politicize the conflict to negotiate power and other interests, which has complicated the problem.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Seyfried spoke to the real-life Ann Lee's experience losing all of her children at a young age, which influenced her religious views.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Immigration tales tend to adopt a hybrid form—part elegy for life in the home country, part hymn to the promise of the new.—
Tope Folarin,
The Atlantic,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Tutivillus, who totted up all the mistakes clergymen made when singing hymns or reciting psalms.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
By 1974, though, many women had already discarded those notions as instruments of domination, psychic equivalents of the whalebone corset.—
James Marcus,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
If your story involves cloning, time travel, psychic powers, fine.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
That all being said, November 1st is sacred.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Those individuals do not necessarily share the view that the Jewish people still share a sacred covenant with God.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The legendary Public Enemy rapper and dating show debutante served as the guest judge on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Night, in which the eight remaining couples hit the floor with head-banging routines set to a litany of iconic anthems.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The trumpets lend a romantic, even sensual touch to this anthem of desperate love, complemented by the vocals of Ricardo Yocupicio and Geovanni Mondragón and the rest of the instrumentation, which includes the essential tuba, clarinets, and horns.—
Luisa Calle,
Billboard,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Yes, this territory has been visited many times in other ways, mainly contemporary such as The Exoricst, but to see this kind of horror in what is described as a genre-bending supernatural thriller is a new one for me.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
11 Nov. 2025
-
This came after director Ryan Coogler had asked her to work on his supernatural thriller, where Caton plays the son of a preacher.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Tutivillus, who totted up all the mistakes clergymen made when singing hymns or reciting psalms.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The basilica was temporarily shut down on Monday, Oct. 13, and prayers and psalms were said as holy water was showered on the altar, according to the outlet.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiritual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiritual. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share