His interest in numinous objects led him on a quest for the Holy Grail.
Source: wiktionary
Numinous
/ˈnjuːmɪnəs/
Synonyms for "numinous" (165 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (33)
all powerfulall seeingall-knowingall-powerfulall-seeingall-wisealmightyambiguousarcaneawe-inspiringawesomeawfulawingbeyond understandingbizarreboundlessbrightbrilliantcabalisticcantrip
Show 11 more words
Adjective(2 words)
awe inspiringdivine
Strong matches (50)
Related words (82)
omnipotentomnipresentomniscientoneotherworldlypast comprehensionpermanentperpetualpreterhumanpreternaturalpreternormalpretersensualpsychicpsychicalradiantramblingreligiousresplendentsacredsacrosanct
Show 58 more words
shamanshamanicshamanistshamanisticshapingshiningsorceroussovereignspiritualsplendentsplendidsplendoroussplendroussuperhumansuperiorsupermundanesupernaturalsupernormalsuperphysicalsupersensiblesupersensualsupramundanesupranaturalsupremetalismanicthaumaturgictimelesstranscendentaltransmundaneubiquitousunaccomplishedunaccountableunboundeduncannyunchangingunconnectedundefinedunearthlyunfathomableunguessedunhumanunintelligibleunknowableunlimitedunsearchableunspeakableuntouchableunutterableunworldlyvenerablevoodoovoodooisticweirdwitchwitchlikewitchywizardlikewizardly
Adjective(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: all powerful, all seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-seeing.
- Sentence evidence is available for numinous, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "numinous".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "numinous"
Keep "numinous" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "numinous" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "numinous", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "numinous" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
4 entriesaesthetic attributemystical qualityreligious attributespiritual quality
More specific
5 entriesnuminous atmospherenuminous experiencenuminous imagerynuminous moodnuminous presence
Collocations
6 entriesnuminous atmospherenuminous experiencenuminous imagerynuminous moodnuminous presencenuminous quality
Inflections
2 entriesmore numinousmost numinous
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
9 total sentences available.
The fetish of Huitzilopochtli, bundled up and screened from profane eyes, now preceded the wandering group, carried on the back of his oracle-priest or sorcerer who alone was holy enough to handle safely the numinous object.
Source: wiktionary
He held his own body in numinous esteem.
Source: wiktionary
The use of blood to instill numen into a thing is illustrated by the establishment and annual renewal of Terminus, the boundary marker […] The transfer of numinous power to persons has its example in the drinking of blood by seers in order to get oracular vision.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 9 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "numinous"?
Closest matches include all powerful, all seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-seeing.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "numinous"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.