1
as in occultism
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means
… an alchemy that changed metals rarer than gold into elements more baneful than lead.—
James Gleick
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2
as in magic
the power to do something impressive in a way that seems mysterious or supernatural
They marveled at the digital alchemy that turns lines of computer code into a beautiful user interface.
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Recent Examples of alchemy
Ask 3 clarifying questions, then suggest 5 'money alchemy' strategies that could improve my financial health.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
And that alchemy and that explosion of emotions is probably somewhere in the movie.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2024
When a public figure sits across from a podcast host to embark on a purportedly shapeless, stream-of-consciousness chat suffused with crude jokes and senseless tangents, an odd alchemy occurs: the speakers begin to sound like pals bantering at a pre-game, with the listener as a silent confidant.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
Natural light is a critical component of Pardo’s alchemy, animating the interior and amplifying the overall pattern play with a dappled light show that is particularly dramatic as the late afternoons kindle into night.
—Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for alchemy 
Jodie Cook, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
And that alchemy and that explosion of emotions is probably somewhere in the movie.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2024
When a public figure sits across from a podcast host to embark on a purportedly shapeless, stream-of-consciousness chat suffused with crude jokes and senseless tangents, an odd alchemy occurs: the speakers begin to sound like pals bantering at a pre-game, with the listener as a silent confidant.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
Natural light is a critical component of Pardo’s alchemy, animating the interior and amplifying the overall pattern play with a dappled light show that is particularly dramatic as the late afternoons kindle into night.
—Mayer Rus, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for alchemy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alchemy
Noun
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That is to say that occultism is less concerned with faith or facts, but rather with fancy.Ed Simon, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
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But Winthrop wasn’t the only figure in American history to see in occultism the possibility of imagining different ways of being, of human improvement.Ed Simon, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
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To learn more about superstition, check out my new book about the science of magic.Popular Science Staff, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024
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At Sainsbury’s, the collaboration with Roald Dahl’s The BFG leans into nostalgia, tugging at consumers’ heartstrings with a dose of festive magic.Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Sam uses her sorcery to help advance her husband’s career and for chores around the house.Lisa Stardust, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024
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The lack of weight here helps enormously, of course—and this is the sorcery behind how the Spring manages 140 miles per charge on such a tiny battery.Jeremy White, WIRED, 5 Aug. 2024
Noun
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From the business of witchcraft on Etsy to the grim—and lucrative—reality of catastrophe bonds, our journalists have covered some disconcerting subjects in the past year.Chris Dobstaff, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
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He was tried for witchcraft, found guilty, and burnt at the stake.Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
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That means a lack of clarity, lower-quality textures, missing lighting effects, and artifacts around characters as reconstruction wizardry fails to keep up.Craig Grannell, WIRED, 4 Nov. 2024
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Zoe passes the time by interrogating Chase about his money, prompted by Morgan Bote’s vocal interest in Chase’s financial wizardry.Sarene Leeds, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Alchemy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alchemy. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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