intangible
Cannot be held
Intangible describes something that cannot be touched or physically grasped.
Abstract qualities are intangible: the intangible benefits of a good education, intangible assets like brand reputation.
The word often implies real value that resists measurement: There's something intangible about her presence that commands attention.
As a noun, an intangible is such a quality or asset.
Innermost animating essence
- spiritSoul, mood, or liquor
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
- transcendentExceeding usual boundaries
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
otherworldly · metaphysical · divine · sacred · mystical · supernatural · incorporeal · celestial
Passing very quickly
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- slipperyLacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
ungraspable · indefinable · ineffable · impalpable · indescribable · vague · nebulous · amorphous
Abstract mental construct
- ideaMental formation
- notionImprecise mental impression
- theoryExplanatory set of principles
- principleFundamental truth or standard
abstraction · thought · philosophy · hypothesis · reasoning · logic · paradigm · framework
Sensed inner state
- sentimentFelt attitude or view
- moodPrevailing emotional condition
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- loveIntense fond attachment
grief · joy · hope · fear · longing · nostalgia · empathy · passion
Kindly, generous spirit
- brand equityWorth of name recognition
- intellectual propertyLegal rights over inventions
- copyrightExclusive reproduction rights
- patentObvious; inventor's monopoly
trademark · trade secret · franchise · license · royalty · asset · valuation · amortization
soul
Innermost animating essence
- spiritSoul, mood, or liquor
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
- transcendentExceeding usual boundaries
ethereal · otherworldly · metaphysical · divine · sacred · mystical · supernatural · incorporeal · celestial · numinous
fleeting
Passing very quickly
- ephemeralLasting very briefly
- transientTemporary, soon departing
- slipperyLacking friction, hard-to-grasp
evasive · ungraspable · indefinable · ineffable · impalpable · indescribable · vague · nebulous · amorphous · indeterminate
concept
Abstract mental construct
principle · abstraction · thought · philosophy · hypothesis · reasoning · logic · paradigm · framework · construct
feeling
Sensed inner state
love · grief · joy · hope · fear · longing · nostalgia · empathy · passion · devotion
goodwill
Kindly, generous spirit
- brand equityWorth of name recognition
- intellectual propertyLegal rights over inventions
- copyrightExclusive reproduction rights
patent · trademark · trade secret · franchise · license · royalty · asset · valuation · amortization · brand value
tradition
Custom passed through generations
- legacyWhat's passed down
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
- goodwillKindly, generous spirit
prestige · honor · dignity · trust · loyalty · values · ethics · morals · customs · identity
- ghostsapparitions, ghosts, apparition, phantoms, specter
- illusionsmirage, optical illusion, hallucination, illusion, afterimage
- Mysticalethereal, otherworldly, supernatural, numinous, transcendent
- emptinessemptiness, void, vacuum, nothingness, blank
- inaccessibleinaccessible, unreachable, out of reach, unobtainable, unattainable
- barely therefaint, subtle, trace, hint, fleeting
- intangible assetsNonmaterial items of value