ethereal
Adjective
Medium difficulty
What does “ethereal” mean?
adjective.extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.
SAT Usage
this term often appears in passages about nature, art, or spirituality, emphasizing a quality of beauty that transcends the ordinary. It suggests an almost otherworldly grace, distinguishing it from words like "delicate," which may not convey the same sense of perfection and transcendence.
Common Confusions
Ethereal implies an otherworldly beauty that transcends the ordinary, while delicate usually suggests fragility without the connotation of perfection or transcendence.
Do not choose ethereal if the context emphasizes heaviness or materiality rather than extreme delicateness and lightness that seems too perfect for this world.
Example Sentences
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The dancer's ethereal performance left the audience breathless.