philosophical

adjective

variants also philosophic
Definition of philosophicalnext
as in analytic
being, given to, or marked by deep thinking especially about fundamental questions of the world A philosophical person by nature, she spent many hours in deep thought about the great mysteries of life.

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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 philosophical In a spring 2026 paper, Ravfogel and his NYU colleagues Shashwat Singh and Tal Linzen raised an even broader philosophical concern with how language model researchers seek evidence of introspection. — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 4 Nov. 2026 Walls were a technology of space, and the bombers were a technology of speed – inspiring his philosophical approach to understanding the world. — Shahnaz Bashir, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026 And Throtl didn’t just re-use so much of the Civic for aesthetic or philosophical reasons. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 3 Nov. 2026 The weather rewrites your shooting schedule every morning, and there’s an almost philosophical lesson in learning to accept that without giving up. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for philosophical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for philosophical
  1. analytic
  2. logical
  3. rational
  4. serious
  5. introspective
Adjective
  • The analytic-minded architect who assembled so much underrated talent left for the biggest market in baseball.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Today’s high schoolers will be eligible to cast their first ballots within a year or two, and those who have been exposed to economics will have stronger analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
    — Julie Weaver, Baltimore Sun, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of analytic
Adjective
  • Think about your beliefs, discard your prejudices and be logical and consistent.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 12 Nov. 2026
  • To those who know his ideas, the notion of a Spinozist biographer will seem about as logical as a vegan butcher or a pacifist contract killer.
    — Kieran Setiya, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of logical
Adjective
  • Carlisle is entitled to make fun of her colleagues for overestimating the power of rational argument and for preferring false simplicity to complicated truth.
    — Kieran Setiya, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The calm, rational response to the Dallas Cowboys’ latest embarrassing performance is to burn it down.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of rational
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, any challenge to investors’ confidence in Huang’s leadership, or any allegation that his personal relationship influenced Nvidia’s lobbying in Washington, could have serious implications for his position and his company’s valuation.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Thirteen people were hospitalized in serious condition, authorities said, though that figure may include the gunman, who underwent surgery after the attack.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of serious
Adjective
  • This androgynous, liminal realm is the soil from which all of Great Jobs’s tracks blossom, variations on a theme that’s equal parts introspective and exploratory.
    — Lisle Younger, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2026
  • So, there’s a lot of introspective work and a lot of me going back to my roots, my relationship to my mother and then becoming a mother as well.
    — Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of introspective

Browse Nearby Words

philosophers
philosophical
philosophies
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Cite this Entry

“Philosophical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/philosophical. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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