transcendent
adjective
tran·scen·dent tran(t)-ˈsen-dənt 
1
a
: exceeding usual limits : surpassing
b
: extending or lying beyond the limits of ordinary experience
c
in Kantian philosophy : being beyond the limits of all possible experience and knowledge
2
: being beyond comprehension
3
: transcending the universe or material existence compare immanent sense 2
4
: universally applicable or significant
the antislavery movement … recognized the transcendent importance of liberty
L. H. Tribe
L. H. Tribe transcendently adverb
Did you know?
The Latin verb scandere means "to climb", so transcend has the basic meaning of climbing so high that you cross some boundary. A transcendent experience is one that takes you out of yourself and convinces you of a larger life or existence; in this sense, it means something close to "spiritual". The American writers and thinkers known as the Transcendentalists, including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, believed in the unity of all creation, the basic goodness of humankind, and the superiority of spiritual vision over mere logic. When we speak of the transcendent importance of an issue such as climate change, we may mean that everything else on earth actually depends on it.
Synonyms
- metaphysical
- otherworldly
- paranormal
- preternatural
- supernatural
- transcendental
- unearthly
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a firm belief in angels, demons, and other transcendent beings the star player's transcendent performance helped the team to a surprise victory
Recent Examples on the Web And to see this character cross over into death on his own terms, without an iota of fear in his heart, and being full-heartedly invested in the love of his father, is just transcendent. Dan Snierson, EW.com, 31 Aug. 2022 And to see this character cross over into death on his own terms, without an iota of fear in his heart, and being full-heartedly invested in the love of his father, is just transcendent. Dan Snierson, EW.com, 31 Aug. 2022 And to see this character cross over into death on his own terms, without an iota of fear in his heart, and being full-heartedly invested in the love of his father, is just transcendent. Dan Snierson, EW.com, 17 Aug. 2022 Candy both refracts and expands the Goon Squad multiverse of tech lords, rogue professors, punk-rock kids and suburban tennis moms, as surreal and funny and transcendent as the last. Ew Staff, EW.com, 30 June 2022 Desire is tricky, mercurial, alternately fleeting and enduring, tragic and transcendent. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2022 Zelensky has mastered the tools of communications to send Ukraine's poignant message to the world, crafting the narrative of this conflict in a way that is credible, transcendent and understandable. Frida Ghitis, CNN, 9 Mar. 2022 Her intelligence is vast and curious and childlike and insatiable and transcendent, like yours. Jennifer Senior, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2022 Still, for all these mystical interpretations, the film appears to recognize that repetition is not always transcendent. Meghan O’gieblyn, Harper’s Magazine , 4 Jan. 2022 See More
Dan Snierson, EW.com, 31 Aug. 2022 And to see this character cross over into death on his own terms, without an iota of fear in his heart, and being full-heartedly invested in the love of his father, is just transcendent. Dan Snierson, EW.com, 31 Aug. 2022 And to see this character cross over into death on his own terms, without an iota of fear in his heart, and being full-heartedly invested in the love of his father, is just transcendent. Dan Snierson, EW.com, 17 Aug. 2022 Candy both refracts and expands the Goon Squad multiverse of tech lords, rogue professors, punk-rock kids and suburban tennis moms, as surreal and funny and transcendent as the last. Ew Staff, EW.com, 30 June 2022 Desire is tricky, mercurial, alternately fleeting and enduring, tragic and transcendent. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2022 Zelensky has mastered the tools of communications to send Ukraine's poignant message to the world, crafting the narrative of this conflict in a way that is credible, transcendent and understandable. Frida Ghitis, CNN, 9 Mar. 2022 Her intelligence is vast and curious and childlike and insatiable and transcendent, like yours. Jennifer Senior, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2022 Still, for all these mystical interpretations, the film appears to recognize that repetition is not always transcendent. Meghan O’gieblyn, Harper’s Magazine , 4 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin transcendent-, transcendens, present participle of transcendere
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
transcendent
adjective
1
as in transcendental
of, relating to, or being part of a reality beyond the observable physical universe a firm belief in angels, demons, and other transcendent beings Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- transcendental
- supernatural
- metaphysical
- paranormal
- mystical
- otherworldly
- mystic
- divine
- unearthly
- spiritual
- celestial
- preternatural
- psychic
- psychical
- heavenly
- numinous
- spiritualistic
- supersensible
- extrasensory
- spiritistic
- supersensory
- occult
- unworldly
- ethereal
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- natural
- earthly
- mundane
2
as in superhuman
being so extraordinary or abnormal as to suggest powers which violate the laws of nature the star player's transcendent performance helped the team to a surprise victory Synonyms & Similar Words
- superhuman
- magical
- miraculous
- uncanny
- transcendental
- remarkable
- supernatural
- phenomenal
- unique
- unearthly
- supernormal
- preternatural
- outstanding
- strange
- bizarre
- rare
- singular
- eerie
- peculiar
- marvelous
- grotesque
- confounding
- unusual
- mystifying
- curious
- outrageous
- quirky
- idiosyncratic
- uncommon
- funny
- weird
- outlandish
- perplexing
- outré
- bewildering
- baffling
- quaint
- kinky
- puzzling
- prodigious
- unnatural
- marvellous
- atypical
- shocking
- aberrant
- freakish
- screwy
- striking
- eery
- flaky
- freak
- wacky
- queer
- unconventional
- fantastical
- fantastic
- salient
- far-out
- wild
- unwonted
- whacky
- queerish
- way-out
- unorthodox
- notable
- conspicuous
- noticeable
- prominent
- out-of-the-way
- uncustomary
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ordinary
- prosaic
- average
- usual
- typical
- everyday
- garden
- unremarkable
- commonplace
- routine
- familiar
- unexceptional
- workaday
- predictable
- run-of-the-mill
- common
- expected
- customary
- regular
- habitual
- frequent
- wonted
- diminishes (in)
- diminishes in
- diminishing
- diminishing (in)
- diminishing in
- diminishing returns
- diminishing rule
- diminishing stile
- diminishingly
- diminishings
- diminishment
- diminishments
- diminuendo
- diminuendoes
- diminuendos
- diminute
- diminutely
- diminution
- diminutions
- diminutival
- diminutive
- diminutively
- diminutiveness
- diminutivenesses
- diminutives