preternaturally
Americanadverb
-
in a way or to a degree that is beyond the ordinary course of nature; exceptionally or abnormally.
Her voice, preternaturally deep, resonated off the walls like a terrible storm.
-
in a supernatural way or to a supernatural degree.
The demons in this movie are of course preternaturally strong.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of preternaturally
Explanation
When something happens preternaturally, it's extremely unusual — you could even say it's strange and mysterious. If your dog is preternaturally smart, you may feel like she understands every word you say. This adverb is commonly used to describe things that happen in a bizarre or extraordinary way, particularly if they're hard to explain. A magician may cause your friend to appear to hover preternaturally above the ground, for example. Sometimes its use signals that you can't quite believe your eyes: "Those redwood trees were preternaturally enormous!" The Latin root is praeter naturam, "beyond nature."
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.
This month’s turnaround has been so dramatic that even the preternaturally upbeat Floridian was unprepared for her success.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Across the board, the staff is genial and preternaturally accommodating.
From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026
In addition to her naturalness on-camera, Feltner explained, Folan just happened to be preternaturally good at the technical aspects of shooting a 30-minute show.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026
Maybe it’s because, unless you were born with a preternaturally unshakable self-confidence few of us can claim, there’s a touch of the underdog in all of us.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2025
The light entering the room was preternaturally intense, carrying with it the surplus radiance of the lake and its frozen shore.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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.
