The word “ethereal” typically describes something delicate, light, and seemingly not of this world; it has an otherworldly quality.
Antonyms for “ethereal” could include “earthly” and “substantial”.
“Earthly” refers to things that are of or related to the earth or the physical world. For instance, while a beautiful sunset might have an ethereal quality with its soft colors and hazy atmosphere, a busy city street with its concrete buildings and traffic is very earthly. It is firmly grounded in the practicalities and realities of our day-to-day existence.
“Substantial” means solid, important, and having a definite form and weight. An ethereal object might seem insubstantial, almost like a wisp of smoke or a dream. In contrast, a large, sturdy oak tree is substantial. It has a physical presence and strength that is the opposite of the ephemeral nature of something ethereal.
In summary, while “ethereal” evokes a sense of lightness and transcendence, words like “earthly” and “substantial” bring us back to the tangible and the material world.