# mystical

/ˈmɪstɪkəɫ/ (US) · /mˈɪstɪkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mystical
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. spiritual or magical

adjective · CEFR B2

having a spiritual or magical quality that people cannot fully understand with their minds.

For teachers: relating to or having a spiritual or supernatural significance that transcends ordinary human comprehension.

- The ancient ceremony had a mystical feeling that stayed with us for days.
- The poet sought to capture the mystical union between the soul and the natural world through complex metaphors of light and shadow.

### 2. inspiring awe and mystery

adjective · CEFR B2

making you feel a sense of wonder, mystery, or fascination.

For teachers: evoking a sense of spiritual mystery, awe, or fascination, often through atmosphere or aesthetic qualities.

- The forest looked mystical in the thick morning fog.
- The composer used haunting choral arrangements to create a mystical atmosphere that transported the audience to another era.

### 3. relating to mystics

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

connected to the beliefs or practices of people who try to communicate directly with God or a higher power.

For teachers: relating to the practices or beliefs of mystics, specifically concerning direct subjective communion with the divine.

- She spent years studying the mystical traditions of the Middle East.
- The seminar focused on the mystical writings of the thirteenth century, examining how these texts challenged the established religious hierarchies of the time.

## Examples

- The old forest has a mystical atmosphere.
- She found the ancient ruins mystical and felt a strange sense of peace while walking among the stones.
- The poet's work is often described as mystical, blending vivid imagery with profound questions about the nature of existence and the divine.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.