thaumaturgic

The magician performed a thaumaturgic trick for the delighted children.

Definition

Adjective: Relating to the performance of miracles or magic; having the quality of a wonder-worker or miracle-maker.

Usage Examples

Advanced Usage

• "thaumaturgic arts": the practice or study of miracle-working or magic.

  • The secret society devoted itself to mastering the thaumaturgic arts, seeking to influence the natural world.

• "thaumaturgic tradition": a cultural or religious system that includes the performance of miracles.

  • The shaman’s thaumaturgic tradition involved chants and dances to invoke spirits.

Variants and Related Words

• Thaumaturgical (adj): an alternative form with the same meaning; often used interchangeably.

  • The thaumaturgical display astonished the crowd.

• Thaumaturge (noun): a person who performs miracles or magic; a wonder-worker.

  • The thaumaturge was revered as a prophet by the villagers.

• Thaumaturgy (noun): the practice of working miracles or magic.

  • Thaumaturgy was once considered a divine gift, but later studied as a medieval pseudo-science.

Synonyms

• Miraculous: of the nature of a miracle, extremely remarkable.

  • The miraculous recovery baffled doctors. (Similar to thaumaturgic in implying supernatural intervention.)

• Magical: relating to or using magic; enchanting.

  • The magical spell transformed the frog into a prince. (Slightly broader, but overlaps with thaumaturgic in fantasy contexts.)

• Wonder-working: capable of performing wonders or miracles.

  • The wonder-working healer was sought by pilgrims from afar. (Direct synonym, though less common.)

Related Idioms