as in empirical
based on observation or experience
child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim believed that fairy tales help children cope with their existential anxieties and dilemmas
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Recent Examples of existential
If Bruce Springsteen’s greatest gift was mythologizing the existential open graves swallowing up blue-collar workers, Mellencamp’s was his piercing ability to at once celebrate and dismantle agrarian fantasy.
—
Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
But experts warn that the toxic runoff from the mines could pose an existential threat.
—Anton L. Delgado, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Today, as the company’s ninth CEO in its 102-year history takes the reins, Josh D’Amaro is forced to navigate his own existential crisis brought about by an emerging technology—artificial intelligence.
—Roland Betancourt, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
The old-school toys, now owned by 8-year-old Bonnie, face an existential threat with the introduction of a high-tech tablet toy named Lilypad (Greta Lee) that takes up most of the girl's attention.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for existential
Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
But experts warn that the toxic runoff from the mines could pose an existential threat.
—Anton L. Delgado, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Today, as the company’s ninth CEO in its 102-year history takes the reins, Josh D’Amaro is forced to navigate his own existential crisis brought about by an emerging technology—artificial intelligence.
—Roland Betancourt, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
The old-school toys, now owned by 8-year-old Bonnie, face an existential threat with the introduction of a high-tech tablet toy named Lilypad (Greta Lee) that takes up most of the girl's attention.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for existential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for existential
Adjective
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The leading option for this was developed by John Moffat in the same year that the Bullet Cluster’s empirical proof was released.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
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Sourcing Similar to other empirical approaches, sourcing analysis studies are also preoccupied with questions of audience voice, among wider questions of power and access to public debate.—
Daniel Jackson,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This observational power is crucial for gathering the data needed to calibrate eruptive mass loss.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
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While the mission was designed with dark energy, dark matter, and exoplanets in mind, Roman’s unprecedented observational capability will offer practically limitless opportunities for astronomers to explore all kinds of cosmic topics.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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The network discontinued its long-standing school report cards, which had provided leaders with an objective measure of their schools’ quality, including not only student outcomes but also staff and student satisfaction.—
Steven F. Wilson,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
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In the 21st century, venues for opinionated public affairs content have proliferated in all forms of media, even those traditionally reserved for objective news.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As an experimental device, ITER will not generate electricity for the commercial grid.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
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One is more of an experimental half-hour comedy.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Existential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/existential. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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