supernatural

[soo-per-nach-er-uhl, -nach-ruhl]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or being above or beyond what is natural; unexplainable by natural law or phenomena; abnormal.

2. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or attributed to God or a deity.

3. of a superlative degree; preternatural.

   a missile of supernatural speed.

4. of, relating to, or attributed to ghosts, goblins, or other unearthly beings; eerie; occult.

noun

1. a being, place, object, occurrence, etc., considered as supernatural or of supernatural origin; that which is supernatural, or outside the natural order.

2. behavior supposedly caused by the intervention of supernatural beings.

3. direct influence or action of a deity on earthly affairs.

4. the supernatural,

   1. supernatural beings, behavior, and occurrences collectively.

   2. supernatural forces and the supernatural plane of existence.

      a deep fear of the supernatural.

supernatural

/ -ˈnætʃərəl, ˌsuːpəˈnætʃrəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to things that cannot be explained according to natural laws

2. characteristic of or caused by or as if by a god; miraculous

3. of, involving, or ascribed to occult beings

4. exceeding the ordinary; abnormal

noun

1. supernatural forces, occurrences, and beings collectively or their realm

Other Word Forms

• supernaturally adverb
• supernaturalness noun
• antisupernatural adjective
• semisupernatural adjective
• semisupernaturally adverb
• semisupernaturalness noun
• unsupernatural adjective
• unsupernaturally adverb
• unsupernaturalness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of supernatural¹

From the Medieval Latin word supernātūrālis, dating back to 1520–30. See super-, natural

Synonym Study

See miraculous.

Example Sentences

"Evil eye" is a supernatural belief in a curse transmitted through a malicious glare, usually one inspired by envy.

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Brown plays Eleven, gifted with superpowers she uses to battle supernatural forces terrorising the inhabitants of Hawkins, Indiana.

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The Australian has stepped in for the final two seasons to portray the title character, a monster hunter with supernatural abilities known as the White Wolf.

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The natural is a good deal more theatrically convincing than the supernatural in this production.

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Previously, British actor Cavill had portrayed the title character, a monster hunter with supernatural abilities known as the White Wolf.

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Related Words

• celestial 
• fairy 
• ghostly 
• heavenly 
• metaphysical 
• miraculous 
• mythical 
• psychic 
• superhuman 
• uncanny