subliminal

Definition of subliminalnext
as in simple
functioning outside the area of conscious awareness but acting to influence one's thoughts or feelings A subliminal image was embedded in the advertisement. The subliminal sounds supposedly aid in getting to sleep, but I am skeptical.

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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 subliminal When Kelli arrives to move into Shamea’s townhouse, the exchange is fraught with what feels like subliminal messages directed at Porsha. Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 15 June 2026 His legacy as one of rap’s great subliminal assassins is one of the most impressive parts of his career. Jayson Buford, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2026 Sometimes, the frame is transfixed by haunting, practically subliminal changes fomenting on a subconscious level, as Dua is shaken from within, and the remarkable Matoshi doles out nuggets of recognizable emotion from beneath her rock-hard exterior. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 May 2026 Kristian Sandberg, who is an associate professor of neuroscience and leads an international research group at the Center of Functionally Integrative Neuroscience at Aarhus University in Denmark, has published work on subliminal perception. Miles Klee, Wired News, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for subliminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subliminal
Adjective
  • Underpinning this assessment is the fact that disagreements between the two nations have gradually expanded beyond simple tariff disputes.
    , CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • In simple terms, cherry juice targets the muscle inflammation caused by exercise, known as oxidative stress.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • New drew his 72-pound Mathews VXR bow and sent a 125-grain mechanical two-blade Swhacker broadhead completely through the buck’s massive chest.
    Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Its entire loop revolved around strategic mechanical dismemberment, a concept perfected all the way back in Ninja Gaiden 2, where maiming enemies directly fed into brutal instant finishers.
    Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • In 2019, the nation's robotic Chang'e 4 mission pulled off the first-ever soft landing on the moon's mysterious far side.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Zoom out, and scale changes what a robotic system’s success rate actually means.
    Shivansh Inamdar, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Hoover’s post-game comments may not have been a conscious shot back at his former head coach, but this could be a case of a subconscious hard at work.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Solms also makes a credible claim that Freud was right in speaking about a subconscious drive to seek pleasure.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Parched fields force hydroponic growers, vegetable farmers and fruit producers to halt harvests, sell off underfed livestock at rock-bottom prices and even return to mechanic jobs to survive.
    Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • There are exceptions and one is Hig (Elordi), who before the virus hit was a mechanic living a good life with his pregnant wife and new puppy.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Another of the crew, a South Korean, was discovered unconscious by coast guard rescuers before being sent to a hospital on the mainland and declared dead there, the coast guard said.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The massage therapist was found unconscious on July 30 near the intersection of 28th Street and Prospect Avenue, according to Capt.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Padmini smiled, though this appeared more reflex than friendliness.
    Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
  • One breath, just long enough to let the reflex pass and judgment catch up.
    Alfonso Cahero, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Adjective
  • But because nobody can see them together while Taylor’s Bachelorette NDA remains in place, Ben has to stay hidden in the room for the entire trip.
    Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Sometimes a scouting department deserves praise for unearthing a hidden talent.
    Jesse Newell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Subliminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subliminal. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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