miraculous

miraculous — adjective

1. so unusually good, lucky, or impressive that it seems almost impossible — like a

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

so unusually good, lucky, or impressive that it seems almost impossible — like a person surviving a serious accident with no serious injuries, or a team winning a match in the final seconds against all expectations.

Example

After months of treatment, Dario's recovery was truly miraculous.

collocation: miraculous recovery

The firefighters called it a miraculous escape when all ten children walked out unharmed.

collocation: miraculous escape

Common collocations
  • miraculous recovery
  • miraculous escape
  • miraculous transformation
  • miraculous turnaround
  • nothing short of miraculous
Synonyms
  • incredible

    more general; can apply to anything hard to believe, not necessarily positive

  • astonishing

    focuses on the emotional surprise rather than the impossibility

  • phenomenal

    emphasizes extraordinary quality rather than luck or divine intervention

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be + miraculous

seem/appear + miraculous

miraculous + noun

Usage Note

Frequently used as a hyperbole in everyday speech. In writing, tone down with almost or nearly for moderation (e.g., 'an almost miraculous turnaround').

Common Mistakes

It was miraculous that he passed the test.' (too mundane for this word).
It was miraculous that he survived the 12-hour surgery against all odds.
reserve for events that truly seem impossible, not everyday good news.

2. caused by or relating to a miracle — an event that cannot be explained by the or

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

caused by or relating to a miracle — an event that cannot be explained by the ordinary laws of nature and is believed to come from a divine or supernatural source, such as a saint known for miraculous healings or a vision described in sacred writings.

Example

According to medieval accounts, Saint Romi performed several miraculous healings.

collocation: miraculous healing

The old text described a miraculous light that appeared inside the temple at midnight.

Common collocations
  • miraculous healing
  • miraculous power
  • miraculous event
  • miraculous property
  • miraculous sign
Synonyms
  • supernatural

    broader in scope — covers ghosts, spirits, magic, not only miracles

  • divine

    specifically attributes the event to a god or gods rather than any supernatural force

  • preternatural

    more formal and rare; suggests something beyond the ordinary but not necessarily from a deity

Antonyms
  • natural

    occurring in accordance with the laws of nature

  • mundane

    ordinary and everyday, lacking any special power

Grammar Patterns

miraculous + noun (powers, events, healing)

be + miraculous (in religious texts)

Usage Note

This sense carries a literal or religious meaning, distinct from the more figurative Sense 1 (AMAZING). In academic or theological writing, avoid using it as a casual hyperbole.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something extraordinary, but they differ in what they emphasise. 'Miraculous' carries the strongest implication that the event seems to defy nature — it is not merely surprising but almost impossible by normal standards. 'Incredible' is the broadest: it simply means hard to believe, whether positive ('an incredible view') or negative ('incredible rudeness'). 'Astonishing' focuses on the emotional reaction of shock or wonder rather than on any supernatural explanation. 'Phenomenal' highlights outstanding quality or scale ('phenomenal growth') without any sense of impossibility. 'Supernatural' leans toward the literal realm of spirits or magic, whereas 'miraculous' in everyday use is often figurative. For example: 'The doctor called it a miraculous recovery' implies it defied medical odds; 'the doctor called it an astonishing recovery' merely reports surprise at the speed.

incredible ↗astonishing ↗phenomenal ↗supernatural ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • by some miraculous chance
  • nothing short of miraculous
  • miraculous escape from death

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'miraculum' meaning 'object of wonder, marvel' (from 'mirari' — to wonder at, admire), via Old French 'miraculos' and Late Latin 'miraculosus'. The core idea of wonder has remained stable for over two thousand years, though the word has broadened from strictly religious contexts to everyday hyperbole.