existential

adjective

ˌeg-(ˌ)zi-ˈsten(t)-shəl How to pronounce existential (audio)
Definition of existentialnext
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of existential Much of the mathematical community, which was already distressed, tipped over into existential crisis. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026 An improbable event can still be existential, and those are precisely the scenarios where contingency arrangements earn their cost. — Bojan Ilic, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026 Chloe Fineman, comedian and former SNL cast member, had a more existential take. — Charlotte Hu, Time, 30 Oct. 2026 For some corners of the software industry, that’s an existential problem that the law cannot easily patch. — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for existential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for existential
  1. empirical
  2. observational
  3. objective
  4. experimental
Adjective
  • But the way Honda is combining hands-on orientation with engineer-friendly schooling (like explaining off-road recoveries in empirical measures) seems like a great path to building a team that really cares about, and understands, its products.
    — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 28 Oct. 2026
  • During high-temperature runs conducted in September, engineers collected new empirical data to evaluate core behavior under extreme heat.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of empirical
Adjective
  • The retrospective observational study was carried out in North Carolina, when Rosman was at the University of North Carolina.
    — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Long-term, the picture is not so clear-cut because people who choose diet soda often differ from those who drink regular soda in many ways, which makes observational research tricky to interpret.
    — Brittany Poulson, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of observational
Adjective
  • The credentialing process itself is objective and requires a security clearance and some other criteria be met that are objective, that have nothing to do with the content or viewpoint of reporting.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Unifying early creative and planning phases with advanced analytics ensures downstream execution is driven by objective market signals rather than isolated guessing.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of objective
Adjective
  • Such growth goes to show that UGVs have matured from what was largely an experimental technology to a bulwark of Ukraine’s national defense.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
  • An experimental drug that held great promise in driving down a dangerous form of cholesterol didn’t show any measurable impact on heart attack or stroke in a clinical trial.
    — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of experimental

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existential
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Cite this Entry

“Existential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/existential. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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