as in spiritual
not composed of matter
ghosts are generally thought to be nonphysical in nature
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Recent Examples of nonphysical
In Ayurveda, Prana, the life force carried by the breath, is understood to nourish both the mind and body and can be viewed as a nonphysical substance, finer than oxygen.
—
Trisha Swift, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
In accounting, intangible assets are nonphysical possessions including such things as brands and intellectual property, software, mineral rights ‒ and contracts.
—Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Ansari answers crypto question with call for campaign finance reform
Ansari’s candidacy was boosted by a massive expenditure from advocates of cryptocurrency, the digital currencies that exist on nonphysical, decentralized ledger systems.
—Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 17 Oct. 2024
The second is Dualism, where there is a nonphysical or spiritual substance-such as a soul-that interacts with the brain and body.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for nonphysical
Trisha Swift, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
In accounting, intangible assets are nonphysical possessions including such things as brands and intellectual property, software, mineral rights ‒ and contracts.
—Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Ansari answers crypto question with call for campaign finance reform
Ansari’s candidacy was boosted by a massive expenditure from advocates of cryptocurrency, the digital currencies that exist on nonphysical, decentralized ledger systems.
—Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 17 Oct. 2024
The second is Dualism, where there is a nonphysical or spiritual substance-such as a soul-that interacts with the brain and body.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for nonphysical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonphysical
Adjective
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Nearly 4 million practice tai chi, and roughly 14% of adults practice some form of mindful or spiritual meditation.—
Samantha Agate,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
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Recently, church officials and sociologists alike have pointed to indications that young Spaniards are showing an increasing interest in their spiritual lives, with anecdotal reports of rises in conversions among young adults.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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Mystical, metaphysical, and frequently touched by whimsy, his boundary-breaking work reflected his abiding interest in Surrealists such as Joseph Cornell, Giorgio di Chirico, and René Magritte.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
12 June 2026
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Some of the dialogue feels like Harrison’s own metaphysical musings rather than characters’ speech.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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Followers of the Abrahamic religions are supposed to treat God as immaterial and incorporeal, yet these early Yahweh worshippers imagined him as fully embodied.—
Manvir Singh,
New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2026
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Positioned as a large-scale genre event, the series updates the legendary SFX property with a contemporary political and social edge, with Shun Oguri leading the cast as a detective hunting a seemingly incorporeal killer.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
O'Connor's whistleblowing programmer Daniel Kellner and Blunt's Missouri meteorologist Margaret Fairchild are eventually drawn together, thanks to the awakening of her supernatural mind-reading skills.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
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Helping bring the game’s supernatural noir atmosphere to life is award-winning composer Chase Bethea.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Where things get a little weirder comes when Labbé introduces psychic powers into the mix.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
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If those with the strongest case to make against injustice could refuse the psychic consolations of victimhood, then there is something especially unbecoming in white Americans learning to speak the language of racial grievance.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nonphysical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonphysical. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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