1
as in temporal
having to do with life on earth especially as opposed to that in heaven
scientists haven't even found all the terrestrial life on our planet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mundane
having to do with the practical details of regular life
let's focus on terrestrial issues—such as how to pay the bills
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 terrestrial
In the new film, a shadowy government organization, not a handful of ethically minded scientists, tries to hide the existence and terrestrial visitations of aliens.
—
Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 12 June 2026
Spielberg’s fascination with aliens has never just been about extra-terrestrial visitors.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 12 June 2026
One theory for why the scorpion got to be so big is to avoid being eaten, as one of the earliest terrestrial beings of its kind, according to the study.
—Shraddha Chakradhar, CNN Money, 10 June 2026
Nobody has done more for extra-terrestrial PR than Steven Spielberg.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrestrial
Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 12 June 2026
Spielberg’s fascination with aliens has never just been about extra-terrestrial visitors.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 12 June 2026
One theory for why the scorpion got to be so big is to avoid being eaten, as one of the earliest terrestrial beings of its kind, according to the study.
—Shraddha Chakradhar, CNN Money, 10 June 2026
Nobody has done more for extra-terrestrial PR than Steven Spielberg.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for terrestrial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terrestrial
Adjective
-
Kate Fry, whose assignment here as Gretl requires a temporal transition from the coquettish and sensuous to a character rich with the moral authority of experience and an ability to judge the folly of others, is quite extraordinary.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
-
In an instant – or rather, through a grueling, ugly, then gritty, then triumphant Game 5 – that temporal distance is temporarily undone.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
The first task starts sedately, with Rekha Shankar, Siobhan, and Lily trying to find the Dropout-style antic comedy in a mundane laundry-day chore.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
-
Periodicals first presented mundane merchant reports, then ventured to publish observations on arts and literature.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Team Australia players Jacob Italiano and Harry Souttar just received two yellow cards after the referee determined that the match is becoming too physical.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
20 June 2026
-
Professor Igor Aharonovich said twisting layered materials can produce entirely new physical behaviors.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Luis Arraez has been a pleasant surprise, and Casey Schmitt has turned himself into an everyday player.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
-
Millions of hours of officer body-camera footage — audited via relatively tiny samples until now — could be meaningfully analyzed, providing entirely new levels of insight into how officers are abiding by constitutional obligations in their everyday work.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
The charity reports a 70% increase in multi-animal incidents across England and Wales since 2021, defining such cases as those involving 10 or more animals.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Regulators are trying to push drug development into a post-animal testing era.—
Meghana Keshavan,
STAT,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Some of this can be put down to the production; Kartel’s longtime collaborator and established hitmaker TJ Records conjures a palette more suited to the trebly ionosphere of Spotify streams than the groundshaking speaker stacks that once fortified dancehall’s earthly domain.—
Edwin “STATS” Houghton,
Pitchfork,
17 June 2026
-
The British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge, who converted to Christianity late in his life, pointed out that Jesus’s entire ministry was directed against the pretensions of earthly power.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Terrestrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terrestrial. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
