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 Web
Elvia Wilk, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
Her interest in mysteries and the occult began in the metaphysical section at her local Borders.
—Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 13 Dec. 2024
The opportunity to complete his unfinished manuscript initially makes the film seem like a tribute to deadline extensions, but Youth Without Youth twists itself into a metaphysical phantasmagoria on age, consciousness, spirituality, and 20th-century evil.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
It’s generally considered untestable, since metaphysical assumptions underlie all our efforts to conduct tests and interpret results.
—Quanta Magazine, 30 July 2024
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Adjective
Although the machines’ inventor is concerned with metaphysical questions—do intelligent robots disprove God’s existence?—his engineer son sees the potential for major profit and manufactures robots for sale around the world, with disastrous results.
—Elvia Wilk, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
Her interest in mysteries and the occult began in the metaphysical section at her local Borders.
—Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 13 Dec. 2024
The opportunity to complete his unfinished manuscript initially makes the film seem like a tribute to deadline extensions, but Youth Without Youth twists itself into a metaphysical phantasmagoria on age, consciousness, spirituality, and 20th-century evil.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
It’s generally considered untestable, since metaphysical assumptions underlie all our efforts to conduct tests and interpret results.
—Quanta Magazine, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for metaphysical
Articles Related to metaphysical
Dictionary Entries Near metaphysical
Cite this Entry
“Metaphysical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metaphysical. Accessed 31 Dec. 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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