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
Beyond software, investors are contending with other existential anxieties.
—
Allie Canal, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Rather than existential threats, the executive views AI assistants as channel partners.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026
Production setbacks at supercar makers usually signal money troubles behind the scenes, and at Gordon Murray Automotive the situation is no different, though the money troubles don’t sound existential.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2026
Molina plays Sam Cooper, who is experiencing something of an existential crisis after recently losing his wife.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for existential
Allie Canal, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Rather than existential threats, the executive views AI assistants as channel partners.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026
Production setbacks at supercar makers usually signal money troubles behind the scenes, and at Gordon Murray Automotive the situation is no different, though the money troubles don’t sound existential.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2026
Molina plays Sam Cooper, who is experiencing something of an existential crisis after recently losing his wife.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for existential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for existential
Adjective
-
The current danger is rooted in a fundamental disconnect between empirical data and public sentiment.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
-
However, there is no empirical evidence to support this claim.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Loneliest Man is much more observational, following Cook through the creeping day-to-day routine of transforming his existence.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
-
By contrast with the work of other documentary filmmakers of similarly observational ardor, Depardon’s method is rugged.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And yet its thinking was hardly objective.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2026
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Only a subset of people who were 70 or older and hadn’t had a stroke received the objective cognitive testing — which may not reveal the full picture around cognition.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Francesco Risso, who helmed Marni after Castiglioni’s departure in 2016 through last year, took the brand in a more avant-garde, experimental direction.—
Nicole Phelps,
Vogue,
25 Feb. 2026
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The brothers later circled back, sans both Bouvier sisters, to convince the Beales to appear in an experimental film.—
Rosemary Counter,
Vanity Fair,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Existential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/existential. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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