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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Recent Examples of subliminal
Beliefs and routines tug at one another as the subliminal Moon in your 9th House of Expansion squares companionable Venus in your 6th House of Work.
—
Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2026
The subliminal message between the two cover shots didn’t go unnoticed.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
The creature’s journey from animal to man is more subtle than a straightforward erasure of the animal sounds, as Robitaille wanted the shift to feel natural and subliminal.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
The only other major drama the documentary spends any length of time with is the notorious 1990 trial in which the band was accused of putting subliminal messages in a song after the double suicide of two young men.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subliminal
Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2026
The subliminal message between the two cover shots didn’t go unnoticed.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
The creature’s journey from animal to man is more subtle than a straightforward erasure of the animal sounds, as Robitaille wanted the shift to feel natural and subliminal.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
The only other major drama the documentary spends any length of time with is the notorious 1990 trial in which the band was accused of putting subliminal messages in a song after the double suicide of two young men.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subliminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subliminal
Adjective
-
In 2015, Lynette was arrested on charges of assault and battery/simple assault.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
28 May 2026
-
When Stagg’s calculations lead him to conclude that an almighty storm is set to break on June 5, 1944 — the day originally earmarked for the Normandy landings — after a long period of balmy calm, potentially scuppering the entire vast project, his simple but urgent advice is to wait a day.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Driving through deep water can also affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 May 2026
-
Engineers at the University of California, San Diego may have developed a different way to connect satellites to Earth, replacing large mechanical dishes with networks of smaller, flat antennas distributed across rooftops, telecom towers, and other buildings.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
Blue Origin is gearing up to send a robotic prototype of the vehicle, called Blue Moon Mark 1, to the lunar surface later this year, to demonstrate the vehicle’s capabilities.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
-
Three days ago, Blue Origin also won a major contract to carry two robotic landers to the moon for NASA on missions scheduled to launch later this year.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Backrooms are the subconscious of the modern world—whoever enters will leave something of themselves behind.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
Bay Area content creator Kane Parsons pushes back on conventional storytelling, and his hypnotic approach results in one of 2026’s most exhilarating debuts, a existential head trip that GoPros us into a human subconscious besieged by misshapen memories that trap and hold you hostage.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Guests then weave through the engine room and mechanic shop of Ohnaka Transport Solutions.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
21 May 2026
-
Eva Petzel, who will be an inspector working in Crown Point on election day, worked with mechanic Doug Kiser on a practice tutorial at the Lake County Government Complex on Saturday.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Both were unconscious and unresponsive.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
23 May 2026
-
In August 2004, a man was found unconscious behind a Georgia Burger King.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
Wyle listened to the two women’s breathing and administered a reflex test on their knees.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
8 May 2026
-
That reflex delays care and erodes trust.—
Liz Koch,
STAT,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Throughout, there are hidden staircases, doorways, a chapel, and halls filled with history’s footfalls.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 May 2026
-
Heat reveals hidden tumors Melanoma survival rates improve dramatically when doctors catch the disease early.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subliminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subliminal. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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