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
Their purpose is an existential one for the state: to help buffer the fragile coastline from rising seas and increasingly ferocious storms.
—
Christina Kelso, New York Times, 24 June 2025
Iranians are also religious and ethnic minorities in the wider world, and that has bred existential fears of foreign conquest.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Iran should hear a concerted line that continued escalation will carry existential risks.
—Dana Stroul, Foreign Affairs, 23 June 2025
Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and to the wider world.
—Marin Scott, NBC news, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for existential
Christina Kelso, New York Times, 24 June 2025
Iranians are also religious and ethnic minorities in the wider world, and that has bred existential fears of foreign conquest.
—Robin Wright, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Iran should hear a concerted line that continued escalation will carry existential risks.
—Dana Stroul, Foreign Affairs, 23 June 2025
Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the State of Israel and to the wider world.
—Marin Scott, NBC news, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for existential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for existential
Adjective
-
The plaintiffs presented no empirical evidence to the contrary—no evidence that the copying has already caused market harm, and no evidence that the copying is likely to cause market harm in the future.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
25 June 2025
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Migration commentators in the U.K. point out there is little empirical evidence for a deterrence effect.—
Frey Lindsay,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Adjective
-
Proper mild cognitive impairment diagnosis requires a cognitive complaint by the patient or family member, objective evidence of cognitive impairment on testing, preserved independence in daily functioning, and confirmation that the person does not meet criteria for dementia.—
Nawab John Dar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 June 2025
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Though my objective portrayals may not appear overtly loving, there is love in the motivation behind them.—
Lydia Davis,
Harpers Magazine,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
Sadly, the label would have none of that experimental nonsense.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 2025
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Indie Animation Finds Its Footing Despite the often overwhelming Hollywood presence, Annecy’s programming carved out space for independent, international and experimental work.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Existential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/existential. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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