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
Both are seen by Gulf states as existential, and a quick exit from the war without an agreement could leave them exposed to repeat attacks for years to come.
—
Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
The current exhibition at MAF highlights how his cinematic works functioned as experimental analyses of 20th-century America, exploring themes of consumerism, authoritarianism, and the existential threat of nuclear war.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
When unimaginable tragedy strikes, the tone of Laxe’s film shifts to become an existential horror film, one of the most unforgettable of last year.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
Liquor and convenience store owners see the ordinance as an existential threat, one that could rob them of between 30% and 50% of their revenue and perhaps lead to the shuttering of their stores.
—Eric Adler
march 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for existential
Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
The current exhibition at MAF highlights how his cinematic works functioned as experimental analyses of 20th-century America, exploring themes of consumerism, authoritarianism, and the existential threat of nuclear war.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
When unimaginable tragedy strikes, the tone of Laxe’s film shifts to become an existential horror film, one of the most unforgettable of last year.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
Liquor and convenience store owners see the ordinance as an existential threat, one that could rob them of between 30% and 50% of their revenue and perhaps lead to the shuttering of their stores.
—Eric Adler
march 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for existential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for existential
Adjective
-
There is also growing empirical evidence that poorly implemented AI simply increases work intensity — flooding organizations with output that still requires human attention, judgment, and correction.—
Omar Abbosh,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Games of chance reflect the invention of a cultural technology that’s the direct ancestor of all of modern statistics—and all of empirical science.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Soder is a comic’s comic whose sharp observational style and affable demeanor has earned him a strong reputation on the club circuit.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
6 Apr. 2026
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Field-trip training To hone their observational skills, the Artemis 2 crew did classroom training in lunar fundamentals.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Supporters of the change argue that sociology is not scientific or objective enough to belong in the core curriculum.—
Carla Cox,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
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Her journalism, in practice, often blurred the line between objective news coverage and her own opinions.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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An experimental United States bomber went so high into the substratosphere after eclipse pictures Sunday that its four motors left a wake of frozen exhaust in the sky.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
8 Apr. 2026
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They’re also inspired by the experimental and avant garde sounds of Frank Zappa and the tape loop experiments of Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney.—
Jessica Meszaros,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Existential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/existential. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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