IMMATERIAL Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

immaterial

adjective

ˌi-mə-ˈtir-ē-əl

Definition of immaterial

as in spiritual

not composed of matter it is only possible to study immaterial forces like gravity by observing their effects on the physical world

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in irrelevant

not having anything to do with the matter at hand while undoubtedly upsetting, that story is immaterial to the question of why you are late

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of immaterial To the casual observer, the look and feel of shipping containers suggests a world of smooth, lossless transportation, almost immaterial in its implementation of a logistical ideal. — Alexander Klose, Scientific American, 24 July 2026 The money, in Gupta’s view, is immaterial. — April Long, Allure, 24 June 2026 None of these readings are so emphatic as to render the others immaterial, and the pervading ambivalence paired with a steady but creeping pace could turn off viewers who just want a good mystery to solve. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 June 2026 Portofiro and the baroque universe surrounding it—communists on-world, techno-fascists offplanet, and all manner of augmentoids and spooks in the immaterial planes between—can make for a dizzying read. — Alex James Kane, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for immaterial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for immaterial

Adjective

This unfettered access — which can be challenging to find among human gurus — is what’s drawing more people to AI for spiritual guidance.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
The now-familiar blend of folk, soul, and psychedelia dominates the album aesthetically, though James took spiritual cues from recordings of meditative organ performances by Alice Coltrane.

— Ryan Leas, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of spiritual

Adjective

Catherine and Alice are such complicated figures that the word likable seems irrelevant to them.

— Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026
Markets may decide that the long lead time required to rebuild Venezuelan production makes the agreement largely irrelevant to near-term supply.

— Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of irrelevant

Adjective

Followers of the Abrahamic religions are supposed to treat God as immaterial and incorporeal, yet these early Yahweh worshippers imagined him as fully embodied.

— Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2026
Positioned as a large-scale genre event, the series updates the legendary SFX property with a contemporary political and social edge, with Shun Oguri leading the cast as a detective hunting a seemingly incorporeal killer.

— Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026

Definition of incorporeal

Adjective

Eddy has been spared the worst violence; the novel casts his racial privilege as a kind of metaphysical exemption.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
There seems to be a deliberate effort here to make the show more fun without dumbing down its metaphysical and philosophical implications.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of metaphysical

Adjective

The author excludes them all, asserting that belief in any kind of nonmaterial, ethereal world lacks empirical support.

— Denis Alexander, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2023
The first part of the book is committed to a ground-clearing exercise, describing the various concepts of the nonmaterial soul that feature in many different religious belief systems.

— Denis Alexander, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2023

Definition of nonmaterial

Adjective

As dark occurrences begin to shatter the quiet of their isolated home, the boy is forced to navigate a harrowing psychological nightmare where the line between real-world madness and supernatural terror blurs.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
The sequel ratchets up the stakes by saddling its cursed protagonist with not only a supernatural nightmare but the pressures of living under an intensely public spotlight.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of supernatural

Adjective

In Ayurveda, Prana, the life force carried by the breath, is understood to nourish both the mind and body and can be viewed as a nonphysical substance, finer than oxygen.

— Trisha Swift, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
In accounting, intangible assets are nonphysical possessions including such things as brands and intellectual property, software, mineral rights ‒ and contracts.

— Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

Definition of nonphysical

Browse Nearby Words

immanent

immaterial

immateriality

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“Immaterial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/immaterial. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of immaterial

adjective

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