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
Thousands of Tibetan refugees live in Nepal and pass through the territory to reach their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 In recent months, Hilton has also spoken openly about a significant spiritual transformation. — Malik Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 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
  • Described as a metaphysical nocturnal taxi ride rather than a documentary, the visual companion was filmed in Ghent and at a train station in Muizen, Belgium.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 31 July 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
  • Beijing has appointed its own senior monks, maintained close surveillance and controls on religious expression, and faced allegations of cracking down on peaceful dissent and forcing the large-scale relocation of rural and nomadic Tibetans.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Singapore maintains strict rules on the public display of foreign flags and emblems without a permit, framing the laws as necessary to protect the country’s racial and religious harmony.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 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
  • Metzger and his team hold Jean hostage and run tests on her to understand how her psychic powers work.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 July 2026
  • The subjectivity of the original tale thus becomes a kind of psychic landscape in Visconti’s film.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 July 2026
Definition of psychic
Adjective
  • But many Native Hawaiian cultural groups oppose this decision, viewing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as sacred.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Tribes are fighting back mine by mine, citing everything from threats to sacred land to water contamination.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of sacred
Noun
  • From Andy Grammer’s feet-thumping anthems to the traditional dance of the Irish rolling hills, this year’s Harris Center for the Arts lineup is sure to entertain.
    — Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • As Reeves performed her rendition of the anthem, the broadcast caught players and fans trying to stifle their laughter.
    — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of anthem
Adjective
  • The actor went on to appear in Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, Oliver Stone’s Savages, and the FX series The Bridge, and most recently supernatural horror Black Phone 2 and Andy Garcia’s Diamond.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Blending horror with comedy, the Apple TV show takes place in a fictitious New England island town afflicted by a centuries-old curse that brings about supernatural evils.
    — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 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 9 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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