preternatural

adjective

ˌprē-tər-ˈna-chə-rəl How to pronounce preternatural (audio)
Definition of preternaturalnext
1
as in extraordinary
being out of the ordinary an editor with a preternatural sense of what will interest the book-buying public

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in supernatural
of, relating to, or being part of a reality beyond the observable physical universe an investigator of preternatural phenomena

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in superhuman
being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature a preternatural ability to predict how the stock market will perform

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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 preternatural Daniels and his preternatural abilities have taken it from there. — David Aldridge, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025 Billy Strings There seems to be no stopping this bluegrass wonder, whose preternatural picking has landed him another trio of shows at Ball Arena. — John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2025 Her preternatural talent earned her comparisons to her hero, Judy Garland, whose mature vocal stylings had also brought fame at a young age. — Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024 But the crispy gai tod, or Thai fried chicken, with its preternatural crunch pushes this place over the top. — Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 14 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for preternatural
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preternatural
  1. extraordinary
  2. supernatural
  3. superhuman
  4. unusual
  5. paranormal
  6. uncanny
  7. exceptional
  8. transcendental
Adjective
  • Musk contributed nearly $300 million to elect Trump, but he and his businesses are primed to reap extraordinary profits from his actions as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
  • But the body itself has an extraordinary ability to heal.
    — Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of extraordinary
Adjective
  • The trailer soon shows just how those supernatural entities unfold, beginning with a sighting of two dogs in the forest that stand still in their tracks, as if frozen in time.
    — Jen Juneau, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The film represents a bold examination of the overseas Filipino worker experience, using supernatural horror as a lens to explore the emotional toll of migration.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of supernatural
Adjective
  • Kloss possessed a superhuman talent for observation.
    — Chadd Scott, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • This year, hundreds of billions of dollars will be spent to scale AI systems in pursuit of superhuman capabilities.
    — Tharin Pillay, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of superhuman
Adjective
  • Network security also gets a significant upgrade with the help of AI. Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) powered by AI monitor traffic in real time, can flag unusual patterns that might indicate a security breach.
    — Kathleen Walch, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
  • As a result, Canadians have rejected American imports and issued other economic punishments in an unusual show of patriotism.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of unusual
Adjective
  • Both incarnations are medium-sized humanoids displaying big heads and uncanny paranormal powers.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Fans of mystery-box shows pondered whether Yellowjackets’ setting was paranormal.
    — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2025
Definition of paranormal
Adjective
  • The disruptions in flow call to mind the format of Be My Guest With Ina Garten, in which Ina both preps for a guest as well as cooks with them, but Meghan’s uncanny flashbacks somehow further untether the show from the reality of her not-kitchen.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Reality Blues wades into the mysteries of our uncanny world, trying to catch a vibe.
    — Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 6 Mar. 2025
Definition of uncanny
Adjective
  • One exceptional find this season is Ashlyn —founded by the South Korean designer Ashlynn Park—which had a number of looks on display in an art gallery in Paris’ first arrondissement.
    — Gemma A. Williams, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The core motion module is capable of a maximum joint torque of 300 N·m, a peak torque density of 203 N·m/kg, and exceptional mobility with a walking speed of 2 m/s, along with a natural human-like gait.
    — Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of exceptional
Adjective
  • The collection was crafted using dreamy textiles including chiffon, organza and satin—essential in the creation of a transcendental atmosphere, with each look practically floating down the runway.
    — Elizabeth Grace Coyne, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • His first two tasks of the day: 20 minutes of transcendental meditation ... followed by four shots of espresso.
    — Axios, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
Definition of transcendental

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Cite this Entry

“Preternatural.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preternatural. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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