...metaphysical questions like personal responsibility for violence.
Synonyms: abstract, intellectual, theoretical, deep More Synonyms of metaphysical
More Synonyms of metaphysical
metaphysical in British English
(ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪkəl)
adjective
1.
relating to or concerned with metaphysics
2.
(of a statement or theory) having the form of an empirical hypothesis, but in fact immune from empirical testing and therefore (in the view of the logical positivists) literally meaningless
3.
(popularly) abstract, abstruse, or unduly theoretical
4.
incorporeal; supernatural
Derived forms
metaphysically (ˌmetaˈphysically)
adverb
Metaphysical in British English
(ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪkəl)
adjective
1.
denoting or relating to certain 17th-century poets who combined intense feeling with ingenious thought and often used elaborate imagery and conceits. Notable among them were Donne, Herbert, and Marvell
noun
2.
a poet of this group
metaphysical in American English
(ˌmɛtəˈfɪzɪkəl)
adjective
1.
of, connected with, or having the nature of, metaphysics
2.
very abstract, abstruse, or subtle
often a derogatory usage
3.
beyond the physical or material; incorporeal, supernatural, or transcendental
4.
designating or of the school of early 17th-cent. English poets, including esp. John Donne, George Herbert, Richard Crashaw, and Abraham Cowley, whose verse is characterized by very subtle, highly intellectualized imagery, sometimes deliberately fantastic and far-fetched
Derived forms
metaphysically (ˌmetaˈphysically)
adverb
Word origin
ML metaphysicalis
Examples of 'metaphysical' in a sentence
metaphysical
The sheer usefulness of this has inspired much metaphysical speculation on ears.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And then there is the more metaphysical question of what kind of country we want to be.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Rather than opening up metaphysical speculation, this is a neat conclusive move.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
I was rather taken aback, because it raised some tricky theological and metaphysical questions.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
People call him a metaphysical poet - but to me, he is the most physical of poets.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The bigger issue perplexing fans of Premier League clubs is the metaphysical question of what actually constitutes a football club.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
metaphysical
British English: metaphysical ADJECTIVE
Metaphysical means relating to metaphysics.
...metaphysical questions like personal responsibility for violence.
American English: metaphysical
Brazilian Portuguese: metafísico
Chinese: 形而上学的
European Spanish: metafísico
French: métaphysique
German: metaphysisch
Italian: metafisico
Japanese: 形而学的
Korean: 형이상학의
European Portuguese: metafísico
Latin American Spanish: metafísico
Definition of 'metaphysical'
1 (adjective)
Definition
abstract, abstruse, or unduly theoretical
metaphysical questions like personal responsibility for violence
Synonyms
abstract
starting with a few abstract principles
intellectual
theoretical
theoretical physics
deep
a deep, dark secret
basic
shortages of even the most basic foodstuffs
essential
Two essential elements must be proven: motive and opportunity.
ideal
an ideal economic world
fundamental
The two leaders have very fundamental differences.
universal
profound
a book full of profound and challenging insights
philosophical
a philosophical discourse
speculative
He has written a speculative biography of Christopher Marlowe.
high-flown
esoteric
She has published several books on pathworking and other esoteric subjects.
transcendental
abstruse
Meetings keep reverting to discussions about abstruse resolutions.
recondite
Her poems are recondite in subject matter.
oversubtle
2 (adjective)
He was moved by a metaphysical sense quite alien to him.
Synonyms
supernatural
spiritual
She lived entirely by spiritual values.
unreal
There are few more unreal worlds than that of the celebrity.
intangible
the intangible dimensions of our existence
immaterial
incorporeal
impalpable
unsubstantial
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abstruse
Definition
not easy to understand
Meetings keep reverting to discussions about abstruse resolutions.
Synonyms
obscure,
complex,
confusing,
puzzling,
subtle,
mysterious,
concealed,
abstract,
vague,
deep,
dark,
hidden,
unclear,
ambiguous,
enigmatic,
esoteric,
perplexing,
occult,
opaque,
incomprehensible,
arcane,
hazy,
cryptic,
unfathomable,
recondite,
Delphic,
clear as mud (informal)
in the sense of basic
Definition
of or forming a base or basis
shortages of even the most basic foodstuffs
Synonyms
vital,
needed,
important,
key,
necessary,
essential,
primary,
crucial (informal),
fundamental,
elementary,
indispensable,
requisite
in the sense of deep
Definition
difficult to understand
a deep, dark secret
Synonyms
secret,
hidden,
unknown,
mysterious,
concealed,
obscure,
abstract,
veiled,
esoteric,
mystifying,
impenetrable,
arcane,
abstruse,
recondite,
DEp
Nearby words of
metaphysical
metamorphosis
metaphor
metaphorical
metaphysical
mete out
meteor
meteoric
Synonyms of 'metaphysical'
metaphysical
Explore 'metaphysical' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of esoteric
Definition
understood by only a small number of people, esp. because they have special knowledge
She has published several books on pathworking and other esoteric subjects.
Synonyms
obscure,
private,
secret,
hidden,
inner,
mysterious,
mystical,
mystic,
occult,
arcane,
hypermetric,
cryptic,
inscrutable,
abstruse,
recondite,
cabbalistic
in the sense of essential
Definition
basic or fundamental
Two essential elements must be proven: motive and opportunity.
Synonyms
fundamental,
main,
basic,
radical,
key,
principal,
constitutional,
cardinal,
inherent,
elementary,
innate,
hard-wired,
intrinsic,
elemental,
immanent
in the sense of fundamental
Definition
basic
The two leaders have very fundamental differences.
Synonyms
basic,
essential,
underlying,
organic,
profound,
elementary,
rudimentary
in the sense of ideal
Definition
of, involving, or existing only as an idea
an ideal economic world
Synonyms
hypothetical,
academic,
intellectual,
abstract,
theoretical,
speculative,
conceptual,
metaphysical,
transcendental,
notional
in the sense of immaterial
Definition
not formed of matter
Synonyms
spiritual,
ghostly,
airy,
metaphysical,
ethereal,
disembodied,
incorporeal,
unsubstantial,
unembodied
in the sense of intangible
Definition
difficult for the mind to grasp
the intangible dimensions of our existence
Synonyms
abstract,
vague,
invisible,
dim,
elusive,
shadowy,
airy,
unreal,
indefinite,
ethereal,
evanescent,
incorporeal,
impalpable (formal),
unsubstantial
in the sense of philosophical
Definition
of or relating to philosophy or philosophers
a philosophical discourse
Synonyms
theoretical,
abstract,
learned,
wise,
rational,
logical,
thoughtful,
erudite,
sagacious
in the sense of profound
Definition
showing or needing great knowledge
a book full of profound and challenging insights
Synonyms
wise,
learned,
serious,
deep,
skilled,
subtle,
penetrating,
philosophical,
thoughtful,
sage,
discerning,
weighty,
insightful,
erudite,
abstruse,
recondite,
sagacious (formal)
in the sense of recondite
Definition
dealing with abstruse or profound subjects
Her poems are recondite in subject matter.
Synonyms
obscure,
involved,
difficult,
deep,
dark,
secret,
hidden,
mysterious,
concealed,
profound,
mystical,
esoteric,
occult,
arcane,
abstruse,
cabbalistic
in the sense of speculative
He has written a speculative biography of Christopher Marlowe.
Synonyms
hypothetical,
academic,
theoretical,
abstract,
tentative,
notional,
conjectural,
suppositional
Additional synonyms
in the sense of spiritual
Definition
relating to a person's beliefs as opposed to his or her physical or material needs
She lived entirely by spiritual values.
Synonyms
nonmaterial,
metaphysical,
other-worldly,
ethereal,
intangible,
immaterial,
incorporeal
in the sense of theoretical
Definition
based on or concerned with the ideas and abstract principles relating to a particular subject rather than its practical uses
theoretical physics
Synonyms
abstract,
pure,
speculative,
ideal,
impractical
in the sense of unreal
Definition
existing only in the imagination or giving the impression of doing so
There are few more unreal worlds than that of the celebrity.