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
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Recent Examples of existential
Rights groups have described the legislation as an existential threat.
—
Merlin Delcid, CNN Money, 17 July 2025
Many analysts believe that Japan, which views a Chinese takeover of Taiwan as an existential threat to its national security, would likely participate in a U.S.-led counteroffensive if conflict erupted.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
Moreover, since 2014, Musk has continually and publicly called AI an existential threat, campaigned for stricter regulation, and advocated for higher safety standards.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 17 July 2025
That anxiety metastasized into an existential terror, as political rhetoric became another kind of highly transmissible, airborne virus.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for existential
Merlin Delcid, CNN Money, 17 July 2025
Many analysts believe that Japan, which views a Chinese takeover of Taiwan as an existential threat to its national security, would likely participate in a U.S.-led counteroffensive if conflict erupted.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025
Moreover, since 2014, Musk has continually and publicly called AI an existential threat, campaigned for stricter regulation, and advocated for higher safety standards.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 17 July 2025
That anxiety metastasized into an existential terror, as political rhetoric became another kind of highly transmissible, airborne virus.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for existential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for existential
Adjective
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The result is a new breed of marketing initiatives that balance creative intuition with empirical validation, allowing executives to identify the precise line between boldness and recklessness.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Though it was hypothesized to be a pest-resisting tactic, there was no empirical evidence proving this.—
Jay Kakade
June 30,
New Atlas,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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By focusing on objective criteria and standardizing evaluation processes, AI agents can help ensure that all candidates are assessed fairly.—
Ray Culver,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Blain said in the statement that the independent investigative report — and the censure vote — were not objective inquiries, but the result of politics.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Participants were presented with a series of experimental questions along with two facial photographs, one of a bearded face and another of a non-bearded one.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
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The interaction was one of many highlights during the team’s three-day experimental broadcast, an interactive, behind-the-scenes look with a booth full of former players.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Existential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/existential. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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