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
Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The rave culture is framed as a modern form of spiritual pilgrimage, a pursuit of epiphany, religious ecstasy, and the loss of self in dance.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2025
The event features a community sing-along of American spirituals, folk songs and bluegrass favorites, hosted by conductor and composer John Yankee with musicians from the San Diego Bluegrass Society, Mission Bay High School and PB Community Choir.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiritual
Adjective
The gathering was led by Joshua Brockway, director of spiritual formation for the Church of the Brethren in Elgin, who said the goal was to share information and experiences so there was a broader understanding of what has been happening in the city.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The rave culture is framed as a modern form of spiritual pilgrimage, a pursuit of epiphany, religious ecstasy, and the loss of self in dance.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
Fastvold shows us religious tableaus coming to life set to Daniel Blumberg’s arrangements of Shaker spirituals.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2025
The event features a community sing-along of American spirituals, folk songs and bluegrass favorites, hosted by conductor and composer John Yankee with musicians from the San Diego Bluegrass Society, Mission Bay High School and PB Community Choir.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 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
-
Here’s everything to know about her mental health history and the religious influence that allegedly distorted her beliefs.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
-
At a massive commemoration marking the anniversary of the Eaton fire this week, local religious leaders read the names of the 19 people who died in the blaze.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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
-
There are no speakers in the songs of MJ Lenderman other than MJ Lenderman, whose diffidence and exhaustion are in all-too-perfect lockstep with the psychic frustrations of his listeners.—
Armin Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
This completed a plan previously pitched by her sister Kali (Linnea Berthelsen), who argued ending their own lives was the only way to stop the government's psychic child program and destroy the Upside Down for good.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Aboriginal Dingaal people had been using the island as a sacred ceremonial site for about 6,000 years.—
Susan Casey,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
-
From Kazakhstan to Utah to Australia Tracey takes us on a journey in search of these semi-sacred places, meeting along the way countless people dedicated to preserving them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The film has now become an anthem for Altadena and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars towards the town’s recovery efforts.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
This week, Tyler, the Creator recapped his glorious year in a triumphant freestyle, Sabrina Carpenter gifted her fans a Man’s Best Friend bonus track as an early Christmas present, and Doechii teamed up with SZA for a subdued yet motivational anthem.—
Rolling Stone,
Rolling Stone,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
An epic with supernatural and epigenetic overtones, this debut novel looks like a feast of a story.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Each song presents a lyrical tapestry that carries messages from God, frequently drawing upon references to biblical psalms.—
Ingrid Fajardo,
Billboard,
26 Nov. 2025
-
Muir read a psalm for protection and remarked on how journalists write the first draft of history while often covering trying events within the community.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
19 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiritual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiritual. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share