phenomenal

phe·nom·e·nal

adj \fi-ˈnä-mə-n^əl\

Definition of PHENOMENAL

: relating to or being a phenomenon: as a : known through the senses rather than through thought or intuition b : concerned with phenomena rather than with hypotheses c : extraordinary, remarkable

— phe·nom·e·nal·ly \-n^əl-ē\ adverb

Examples of PHENOMENAL

1. <the phenomenal growth that the suburb has experienced over the last decade>
2. <the phenomenal ability to remember the names of thousands of people>
3. The catch soared year after year, reaching a peak of 1.6 billion pounds in 1956. But not even the fish's phenomenal fecundity could sustain them under this industrial onslaught. —Bruce Franklin, Mother Jones, March & April 2006
4. The region's two main communities are Camden, with its very old money and … five-star restaurants and phenomenal B&Bs, and Rockland, a serious old fishing town that hosts the Festival every summer in historic Harbor Park, right along the water. —David Foster Wallace, Gourmet, August 2004
5. Physical prowess aside, the concentration required on the beam is phenomenal. —Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated, 18 Oct. 2000
6. Given his phenomenal poll numbers in a race he has not yet officially entered … —Julia Reed, Vogue, February 1999

Origin of PHENOMENAL

(see phenomenon)

First Known Use: 1825

Related to PHENOMENAL

Synonyms: aberrant, aberrated, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, especial, exceeding, extraordinaire, extraordinary, freak, odd, peculiar, exceptional, preternatural, rare, singular, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, unusual, unwonted

Antonyms: common, customary, normal, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, unextraordinary, usual

Related Words: conspicuous, notable, noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, salient, striking; bizarre, deviant, eccentric, freakish, monstrous, oddball, outlandish, quaint, strange, weird; incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, unimaginable, unthinkable

Near Antonyms: everyday, familiar, frequent

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Rhymes with PHENOMENAL

abdominal, cognominal