miraculous
Americanadjective
-
performed by or involving a supernatural power or agency.
a miraculous cure.
-
of the nature of a miracle; marvelous.
- Synonyms:
- extraordinary
-
having or seeming to have the power to work miracles.
miraculous drugs.
adjective
-
of, like, or caused by a miracle; marvellous
-
surprising
-
having the power to work miracles
Usage
What does miraculous mean? Miraculous is used to describe something done by or involving a supernatural power, as in Rising from the dead is a miraculous feat!This sense of miraculous is frequently limited to religious use. In many faiths, something being miraculous implies an action of a deity. However, some people believe that something can be miraculous due to the forces of nature. Miraculous is also used figuratively to describe something whose working isn’t well understood or whose results are exceptionally wonderful. It appears to work by miracle, that is, an action by a deity. You might hear medicines or cures described as miraculous because they seem to work by miracle or the results are so wonderful, like the results of a miracle would be. Example: The acquisition went through miraculously and everyone got what they wanted.
Synonym Usage
Miraculous, preternatural, supernatural refer to that which seems to transcend the laws of nature. Miraculous refers to something that apparently contravenes known laws governing the universe: a miraculous success. Preternatural suggests the possession of supernormal qualities: Dogs have a preternatural sense of smell. It may also mean supernatural: Elves are preternatural beings. Supernatural suggests divine or superhuman properties: supernatural aid in battle.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of miraculous
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin mīrāculōsus, equivalent to Latin mīrācul(um) miracle + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
A miraculous occurrence can be providential or heaven-sent, or just peculiarly fortunate and appropriate. In any event, as the word suggests, it has the character of a miracle. The adjective miraculous has origins in the Latin word miraculum, meaning "object of wonder." It's often used to describe religious happenings, such as a direct answer to one's prayer. In a more secular context, a "miraculous comeback" is when a football team that's down by 30 points at halftime ends up winning the Super Bowl.
Vocabulary lists containing miraculous
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
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"The Tempest," Vocabulary from Acts 1 and 2
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"Musée des Beaux Arts" by W.H. Auden
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He decried “the experts and politicians who have prescribed, encouraged, and applauded the disintegration of such farming communities all over this country into our allegedly miraculous modern American agriculture.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
That’s a bummer for the engineers developing humanoids with miraculous applications, like autonomous disaster-response bots.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
Viral social media posts claim peptides can offer a range of seemingly miraculous benefits including glowing skin, stronger muscles, deeper sleep, a more alert mind -- and even provide an avenue to prevent ageing.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
For A-level student Stephen, from Carmel College in St Helens, results day turned into a "miraculous" morning after New College, Oxford, accepted him to study law despite him missing the grades he had been offered.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
The spirit actions that Kate described, “the piano was sweetly played upon by spirit fingers, the guitar was played, then taken up and carried above our heads …” didn’t seem all that miraculous any longer.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
