numinous

American  

[noo-muh-nuhs, nyoo-] / ˈnu mə nəs, ˈnyu- /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or like a numen; spiritual or supernatural.

2. surpassing comprehension or understanding; mysterious.

   that element in artistic expression that remains numinous.

3. arousing one's elevated feelings of duty, honor, loyalty, etc..

   a benevolent and numinous paternity.

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numinous British  

/ ˈnjuːmɪnəs /

adjective

1. denoting, being, or relating to a numen; divine

2. arousing spiritual or religious emotions

3. mysterious or awe-inspiring

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Etymology

Origin of numinous

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin nūmin- (stem of nūmen ) numen + -ous

Explanation

Something numinous has a strong religious quality, suggesting the presence of a divine power. When you enter a temple, church, or mosque, you might feel as though you've entered a numinous space. Numinous comes from the Latin numin- meaning "divine power." This word also comes from numen, a word used to describe the spirit or divine power characteristic of a thing or place. However, you don't have to be in a strictly religious environment to experience something numinous; you might see the beauty of a painting or the melody of a song as numinous — if they communicate a spiritual vibe.

Example Sentences

Living below one’s means and avoiding lifestyle creep allows me to access more of what I call my numinous self.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

Other people are already, in some sense, absent—existing only in our mental perception or, these days, in the numinous world of our extended digital consciousness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

Kirk was after something cooler, grander, more numinous and entirely of the moment: celebrity as a celebration of itself, untethered to any specific skills or accomplishments.

From Salon • Sep. 14, 2025

Similarly, the sense of the numinous, of potencies beyond human understanding, is made explicit and manifest, particularly in an early conversation about dark energy.

From New York Times • Nov. 16, 2022

He’d only heard about it from Erastis, who described it in numinous terms, as if the Book were made out of light and magic instead of paper and thread.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee