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
As bassist Ian Hill points out, since the alleged (and in fact non-existent) messages were subliminal, they were being asked to prove that something which couldn’t be detected wasn’t there.
—
Catherine Bray, Variety, 20 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
Those in the public eye are not immune to society’s subliminal, and now not-so-subliminal, messaging about bodies.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subliminal
Catherine Bray, Variety, 20 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
Those in the public eye are not immune to society’s subliminal, and now not-so-subliminal, messaging about bodies.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subliminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subliminal
Adjective
-
Build buffer time, trim one commitment, then return to the itinerary with even gentler expectations and a simpler packing list.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Parents, guardians, aunts and uncles don't have time to read every book on the shelf while trying to pick something for the young reader in their life, so here are some simple ways to determine if a book is suitable for that child.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The robotic characters break free from their restaurant resting place to cause chaos in town, while the villainous Marionette pops up to possess victims for her own nefarious purposes.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
That evidence may soon be on the way, as a growing fleet of robotic missions are set to explore regions of the moon beyond the Apollo landing sites with instruments designed to probe its interior in greater detail.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Your subconscious may call the shots during the first quarter moon in Cancer.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
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To really pick at this raw nerve, Menzies returns to narrate these passages from Frank’s book and taunt Jamie’s subconscious.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In the behind-the-scenes footage, Sinise is seen angling himself under the hood of the car from the music video as Wilson gives cues about the natural placement of a mechanic working.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
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The scheme, which uses single-button presses to deploy impressive moves, appears easy to learn on the surface, but Quarter Up layered complexity through the tag mechanic and defensive options to create depth.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Jose Guadalupe Ramos-Solano, a 52-year-old father and Los Angeles resident, died Wednesday, March 25 after being found unconscious and unresponsive inside the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, ICE officials stated in a news release.—
Ryanne Mena,
Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
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One security officer was struck by the vehicle and briefly knocked unconscious but did not suffer life‑threatening injuries.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The ten seconds that led to the Braylon Mullins’ miracle shot were a series of reflex plays, reactions, the ultimate in instincts taking over, living in the split second, rather than in the moment.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
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There was a reflex stop on a David Kämpf flash rebound in the second period.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
While none of this amounts to conscious communication, the hidden network allows plants to share resources and information, helping forests survive as interconnected communities.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
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An office with a wood-burning fireplace and a hidden service kitchen are also located on this level.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subliminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subliminal. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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