Mirific
adj.joyful, capableliterary
What it means
Producing wonder or an effect that seems marvelous.
Reach for it when using a rare literary word when wonder-working power is genuinely the point
The dye maker achieved a mirific blue from leaves that looked unpromising.
Choose between these
6- playful
figurative enchantment captures a delightful effect
not when Magical is common promotional language and may blur literal claims.
- everyday
plain enthusiastic praise is sufficient
not when Wonderful expresses general approval; mirific points specifically toward a wonder-making effect.
- warm
something inspires delighted admiration
not when Marvelous is familiar praise and lacks mirific's rare learned tone.
- professional
the result greatly exceeds reasonable expectation
not when Astonishment can be negative and says nothing about beauty.
- formal
the event appears to exceed natural explanation
not when Miraculous makes a supernatural or highly improbable claim that mirific need not.
- literary
an agent repeatedly produces remarkable effects
not when Wonder-working is conspicuous and can sound religious or archaic.
Said against
4- ordinary
- uninspiring
- banal
- disappointing
It naturally appears in
3- mirific power
The novel gives memory a mirific power to reshape the landscape.
- mirific effect
One hidden window creates a mirific effect at sunset.
- mirific skill
Her mirific skill turned damaged glass into a coherent new panel.
Usage notes
Mirific is rare in contemporary English. Wonderful or marvelous will serve most readers more naturally.