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
b
: supernatural
fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crown'd—William Shakespeare
3
: 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 WebLynette Rice, Deadline, 20 June 2024
Her interest in mysteries and the occult began in the metaphysical section at her local Borders.
—Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 14 June 2024
By David Sims There is no feeling or metaphysical concept that Pixar Animation Studios can’t turn into some sort of blob.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 13 June 2024
Weaver was an intellectual historian who believed that the metaphysical errors of the late Middle Ages had spawned a whole slew of evils, from moral relativism to jazz.
—Rachel Lu, National Review, 13 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for metaphysical 
Adjective
Previously, the duo created the metaphysical thriller The OA, which ran for two seasons on Netflix, and the psychological thriller Sound of My Voice, a feature film which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
—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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Cite this Entry
“Metaphysical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metaphysical. Accessed 23 Jun. 2024.
Kids 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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