as in magic
having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers
some have sensed a numinous energy in the landscape around Sedona, Arizona
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Recent Examples of numinous
In this numinous world, visitors come by for death bed reckonings, and the CEO will have many scores to settle.
—
Emma Alpern, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
Nonbelievers might share this occasional sense of numinous exhilaration, even if their interpretations of the data diverge, Consolmagno acknowledged.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
Starting with Neptune retrograde in Aries on July 4, this transit will likely create confusion in your love life as the numinous fog surrounds your romantic and creative endeavors.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 8 July 2025
Much is achieved through the simple act of exhibiting the numinous paintings of Varo and those of other women such as Leonora Carrington and Dorothea Tanning, who the misogynist Breton counted as muses rather than artists.
—Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numinous
Emma Alpern, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
Nonbelievers might share this occasional sense of numinous exhilaration, even if their interpretations of the data diverge, Consolmagno acknowledged.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
Starting with Neptune retrograde in Aries on July 4, this transit will likely create confusion in your love life as the numinous fog surrounds your romantic and creative endeavors.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 8 July 2025
Much is achieved through the simple act of exhibiting the numinous paintings of Varo and those of other women such as Leonora Carrington and Dorothea Tanning, who the misogynist Breton counted as muses rather than artists.
—Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for numinous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for numinous
Adjective
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And the magic elixir is able to turn garbage into Jan Ravnik, Swift's pinup backup dancer.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
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Three was the magic number on inspections for Uncle Joe’s.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Dera was founded in 1948 by the mystic Mastana Balochistani in the Haryana city of Sirsa, near the northern state’s borders with Punjab, India’s breadbasket, and the desert state of Rajasthan.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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Although Nuccio is as down to earth as anyone could be, and definitely not a mystic, there can be no disputing his stature as a remarkable man.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The Topeka native led Wichita State to a magical Sweet Sixteen run in 2006; sent Texas A&M to four consecutive NCAA appearances; and most recently guided Maryland to five NCAAs — including a Sweet Sixteen — in 11 years as the Terrapins’ head coach.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
5 Feb. 2026
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The panel will turn on adapting the novel’s magical realism, shaping its multi-generational story for an eight‑episode series and the creative collaboration behind bringing this beloved classic to global audiences, the Berlinale Series Market confirmed Wednesday.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Numinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/numinous. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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