meta·phys·i·cal
ˌme-tə-ˈfi-zi-kəl 
1
: of or relating to metaphysics
metaphysical truth
metaphysical speculation
2
a
: of or relating to the transcendent (see transcendent sense 1) or to a reality beyond what is perceptible to the senses
fleeing from experience to a metaphysical realm—
John Dewey
John Dewey
b
: supernatural
fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crown'd—William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare3
: highly abstract or abstruse
4
often capitalized
: of or relating to poetry especially of the early 17th century that is highly intellectual and philosophical and marked by unconventional figurative language
metaphysical poets
: a metaphysical poet of the 17th century
Synonyms
Examples of metaphysical in a Sentence
Adjective
a metaphysical world of spirits
a work that deals with such metaphysical questions as the very nature of knowledge
Recent Examples on the WebLuann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024
Where to watch: Netflix 'Dream Scenario' The metaphysical dramedy stars Nicolas Cage as a socially awkward college professor who appears in people's dreams, first those around him and then worldwide.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024
Life of a White-Hat Hacker (Zoe Schiffer, Vox, August 2019)
The white hat/black hat binary used to distill hacking’s morality evokes fantasy roleplaying and metaphysical lore—fitting counterparts given the overarching nerd/geek subculture from which hacking emerged.
—Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2024
What we’re left with instead is an organizing of the metaphysical illusions that have haunted the minds of the characters, in the same way that a dream makes cogent and organized something that is not, objectively speaking, resolution, finality, or truth.
—Nathan Jeffers, Hazlitt, 28 Feb. 2024
The lack of mooring for the term coincides with a metaphysical sensibility according to which the human framework will soon be transcended.
—Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024
Visitors will traverse between the installations, embarking on a physical and metaphysical journey through landscapes that are as much a part of the exhibit as the art itself.
—Shelby Knick, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024
But this also presents a functional and even metaphysical dilemma to someone like me, a working movie critic of four decades who for much of that time has also been a practicing Zen Buddhist.
—Ty Burr, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024
The metaphysical synergy of music and family also courses through the Barretts.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 17 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Sacred Journey Market This family-friendly metaphysical market is filled with tarot readers, psychics, crystals, metaphysical gifts and décor, reiki healers, free seminars and more.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024
Where to watch: Netflix 'Dream Scenario' The metaphysical dramedy stars Nicolas Cage as a socially awkward college professor who appears in people's dreams, first those around him and then worldwide.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024
Life of a White-Hat Hacker (Zoe Schiffer, Vox, August 2019)
The white hat/black hat binary used to distill hacking’s morality evokes fantasy roleplaying and metaphysical lore—fitting counterparts given the overarching nerd/geek subculture from which hacking emerged.
—Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2024
What we’re left with instead is an organizing of the metaphysical illusions that have haunted the minds of the characters, in the same way that a dream makes cogent and organized something that is not, objectively speaking, resolution, finality, or truth.
—Nathan Jeffers, Hazlitt, 28 Feb. 2024
The lack of mooring for the term coincides with a metaphysical sensibility according to which the human framework will soon be transcended.
—Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2024
Visitors will traverse between the installations, embarking on a physical and metaphysical journey through landscapes that are as much a part of the exhibit as the art itself.
—Shelby Knick, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024
But this also presents a functional and even metaphysical dilemma to someone like me, a working movie critic of four decades who for much of that time has also been a practicing Zen Buddhist.
—Ty Burr, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024
The metaphysical synergy of music and family also courses through the Barretts.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 17 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'metaphysical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near metaphysical
Cite this Entry
“Metaphysical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metaphysical. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
metaphysical
adjective
meta·phys·i·cal
ˌmet-ə-ˈfiz-i-kəl
1
: of, relating to, or based on metaphysics
3
: difficult to understand : abstract
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