as in subtle
barely perceptible by a sense or by the mind
They studied how the subjects were affected by different sounds played at liminal intensity.
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Recent Examples of liminal
Early Exits: Poor Sinner The Cincinnati Open has existed in a strange liminal space this week.
—
Chris Branch, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
In this liminal space between reality and the afterlife, Frida bargains with la Catrina, an alluring female embodiment of death popular in Mexican culture.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
In this case, the veteran horror director turned a liminal but limited movie (1951's The Thing From Another World) into a haunting effects extravaganza.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Throughout, Giles Nuttgens’ cinematography is bright and crisp, holding the film in the glossy, liminal space between A-feature and B–movie.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for liminal
Chris Branch, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
In this liminal space between reality and the afterlife, Frida bargains with la Catrina, an alluring female embodiment of death popular in Mexican culture.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
In this case, the veteran horror director turned a liminal but limited movie (1951's The Thing From Another World) into a haunting effects extravaganza.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Throughout, Giles Nuttgens’ cinematography is bright and crisp, holding the film in the glossy, liminal space between A-feature and B–movie.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for liminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for liminal
Adjective
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This planet is electric, unpredictable and genius with its approach, but its transits are anything but subtle.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
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Even subtle light or noise can disrupt sleep cycles, preventing you from reaching the deeper, most restorative stages of sleep necessary for physical and mental recovery.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Applebee’s recently managed its first quarter of same-store sales growth after eight consecutive declines, a faint improvement, but one that pales in comparison to the surge at Chili’s or the steady gains at Olive Garden.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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This leads to signals that are often faint, easily drowned out by background noise, and difficult to isolate in complex biological environments such as blood or tissue.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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There is also a hardcover book packed with unseen photographs, a comic book tour programme, and a Knebworth concert poster.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025
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Use Intuition To Anticipate Future Trends A leader’s intuition is their backstage pass to the future—spotting unseen patterns, sensing cultural shifts and making bold moves before data catches up.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Boise State basketball’s conference schedule was announced on Tuesday morning, and there’s a slight difference to this year’s Mountain West slate.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Sep. 2025
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While strong finances and health helped bolster the country's overall 70% score, that was offset by factors including income inequality, a slight increase in unemployment and a decline in happiness.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Although this is a common diagnosis, its symptoms can be invisible and interfere with everyday activities like dining out and shopping.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
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And in sport, where the thinnest of margins always matter, recognizing the invisible might be one of your most visible acts of leadership.—
Rick Burton,
Sportico.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Liminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/liminal. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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