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GRE vocabulary

preternatural

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore P words

beyond what is normal or natural; extraordinary or supernatural

Word origin: From Latin praeter naturam, beyond nature.

In a sentence

Preternatural in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing preternatural in a sentence.

The chess prodigy had a preternatural ability to see twenty moves ahead.

She solved the cipher with a preternatural speed that astonished even the senior cryptographers.

Synonyms
extraordinarysupernaturaluncanny
Antonyms
ordinarynaturalcommonplace
Usage & nuance

Using “preternatural” well

Preternatural means beyond the normal course of nature, often used hyperbolically for an uncanny human ability rather than the strictly supernatural.

Common questions

Questions about “preternatural

Preternatural (adjective) means beyond what is normal or natural; extraordinary or supernatural
Here is preternatural used in an example sentence: "The chess prodigy had a preternatural ability to see twenty moves ahead." Another example: "She solved the cipher with a preternatural speed that astonished even the senior cryptographers."
Common synonyms for preternatural include extraordinary, supernatural, uncanny.
Antonyms of preternatural include ordinary, natural, commonplace.
On the GRE, preternatural clusters with extraordinary, supernatural, and uncanny, opposing ordinary, natural, and commonplace.
Yes. Preternatural is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

Learn words the way the GRE tests them.

Vocabulary sticks when you meet it in real sentences. Practise these words inside text completion and sentence equivalence questions.