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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Legislators should realize that a simple law meant to avert potential catastrophic risks seems like an existential risk to those who oppose it.
—
Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The existential gripes from older generations about the sanctity of live show experiences seem to misunderstand the moment.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Are you beset by existential worries?
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
That knowledge lingers beneath the comedy — Only Murders, perhaps more than any other contemporary murder-mystery series, revels in existential philosophizing — and lends the series a faint, moving ache.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for existential
Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The existential gripes from older generations about the sanctity of live show experiences seem to misunderstand the moment.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Are you beset by existential worries?
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
That knowledge lingers beneath the comedy — Only Murders, perhaps more than any other contemporary murder-mystery series, revels in existential philosophizing — and lends the series a faint, moving ache.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for existential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for existential
Adjective
-
There are no score sheets or empirical grading systems employed.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The migration from consensus to empirical validation is an inevitability.—
Benjamin D. Summers,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The observational study, conducted by academics at the University of Florida and University College London, was published in the journal iScience.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The authors acknowledge no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect at this stage of the observational study.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The two competing studies from less-than-objective sources leave us still wondering what the true impact might have been.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Get an objective snapshot of your business health today.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The experiment provided important experimental data and technical support through long-term operation tests and physical research.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
-
These new additions transform staking from an experimental concept to a real-world product of regulated finance.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Existential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/existential. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share