numinous
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or like a numen; spiritual or supernatural.
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surpassing comprehension or understanding; mysterious.
that element in artistic expression that remains numinous.
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arousing one's elevated feelings of duty, honor, loyalty, etc..
a benevolent and numinous paternity.
adjective
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denoting, being, or relating to a numen; divine
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arousing spiritual or religious emotions
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mysterious or awe-inspiring
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.
Vocabulary lists containing numinous
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The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
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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.
Nothing in these stories, translated by Megan McDowell, is quite impossible, yet the shadow of numinous malignancy hangs over everything.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 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
The fruit in those same kitchens looked numinous in the morning light.
From Washington Post • Sep. 15, 2022
The creaky Romantic fantasy of the numinous artist, isolated from mundane labors, turning her back on the modern world to get in touch with higher truths, is on display.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2022
As is usually the case, people with special abilities emerged to assist travelers through the portal to the numinous.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
