existentialism

noun

ex·​is·​ten·​tial·​ism ˌeg-(ˌ)zi-ˈsten(t)-shə-ˌli-zəm 

ˌek-(ˌ)si-

: a chiefly 20th century philosophical movement embracing diverse doctrines but centering on analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad

Examples of existentialism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As the production mutates, Dav1d channels lust, trauma, and existentialism into sizzling streaks of Auto-Tune. —Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2025

The Ha-Ha can be read through lenses of Christian mysticism, absurdism, existentialism, or the Zen Buddhist conception of present-moment awareness as enlightenment. —Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025

Despite the hyper-specific dialogue and Bergman-esque existentialism, the cast and crew mostly worked off a broad outline that Altman drew up. —Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2025

The filmmaker instead evokes his earlier work—namely Dogtooth and The Killing of a Sacred Deer—combining the mannered, hermetic bleakness of those tales with the befuddled existentialism of a Samuel Beckett play. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

existential + -ism, in part as translation of German Existentialismus (or Existenzialismus) or French existentialisme

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for existentialism

• absolutism
• adventurism
• aestheticism
• africanism
• agnosticism
• alcoholism
• anabolism
• anachronism
• anglicanism
• antagonism
• arianism
• asceticism