supernal

adjective

su·​per·​nal su̇-ˈpər-nᵊl 

1

a

: being or coming from on high

b

: heavenly, ethereal

supernal melodies

c

: superlatively good

supernal trumpet playing

2

: located in or belonging to the sky

supernally

su̇-ˈpər-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms

• A-OK
• A1
• awesome
• bang-up
• banner
• beautiful
• blue-chip
• blue-ribbon
• boffo
• bonny [chiefly British]
• bonnie
• boss [slang]
• brag
• brave
• bully
• bumper
• capital
• choice
• classic
• cool [slang]
• corking
• crackerjack
• cracking
• dandy
• divine
• dope [slang]
• down [slang]
• dynamite
• excellent
• fab
• fabulous
• famous
• fantabulous [slang]
• fantastic
• fine
• first-class
• first-rate
• first-string
• five-star
• four-star
• frontline
• gangbusters
• gangbuster
• gilt-edged
• gilt-edge
• gone [slang]
• grand
• great
• groovy
• heavenly
• high-class
• hot
• hype [slang]
• immense
• jim-dandy
• keen
• lovely
• marvelous
• marvellous
• mean
• neat
• nifty
• noble
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• out-of-sight [slang]
• par excellence
• peachy
• peachy keen
• phat [slang]
• prime
• primo [slang]
• prize
• prizewinning
• quality
• radical [slang]
• righteous [slang]
• sensational
• slick
• splendid
• stellar
• sterling
• superb
• superior
• superlative
• swell
• terrific
• tip-top
• top
• top-notch
• top-of-the-line
• top-shelf
• topflight
• topping [chiefly British]
• unsurpassed
• wizard [chiefly British]
• wonderful

Examples of supernal in a Sentence

an absolutely supernal performance of the concerto by a 16-year old prodigy

a couple enjoying the supernal joys of parenthood for the first time

Recent Examples on the Web

Circling guitars and wafting synths are grounded by a resolute rhythm section and sweetened by Neil Halstead’s drowsy lead vocals alongside Rachel Goswell’s supernal harmonies, with the entire mix soaring and falling across the album’s eight melancholy and hopeful songs. —Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 30 Aug. 2023

According to a Sanskrit text that may have been written as early as the first century B.C., the dharma, or the nature of reality, could be taught without sound or language, through perfume, whose nebulousness required supernal focus — the kind necessary to comprehend the universe. —New York Times, 10 Sep. 2021

The product is to be called Elixirent, a supernal energy drink. —Dwight Garner, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2021

De Havilland was capable as few other actors have ever been of expressing a kind of supernal grace and guilelessness. —Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2020

But Thomas' supernal ability to craft trauma into narrative doesn't come without cost. —Author: Britt Peterson, Anchorage Daily News, 31 July 2019

The idea of watching supernal figures battle it out is both fun and endlessly attractive, because everyone likes a spectacle, and the biggest spectacle of all comes from watching one irresistible alien force slam into another unmovable alien object. —Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, 20 Nov. 2018

Great versus supernal Almost all buyers will be stepping up to the TPR from something less-good—less precise, less moddable, less solid, less well-built. —Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, 23 Sep. 2018

The parallel with changing attitudes toward death and the afterlife is provocative: the point of greatest uncertainty suddenly transformed into supernal glory. —BostonGlobe.com, 3 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French supernel, from Latin supernus, from super over, above — more at over

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

supernal

adjective

su·​per·​nal su̇-ˈpərn-ᵊl 

1

a

: being or coming from on high

b

: heavenly sense 3

supernal music

2

: located in or belonging to the sky

supernally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb