philosophical

adjective

phil·o·soph·i·cal ˌfi-lə-ˈsä-fi-kəl

also -ˈzä-

variants or less commonly philosophic

ˌfi-lə-ˈsä-fik

also -ˈzä-

Synonyms of philosophical next

: of or relating to philosophers or philosophy

: based on philosophy

: characterized by the attitude of a philosopher

specifically : calm or unflinching in the face of trouble, defeat, or loss

philosophically

ˌfi-lə-ˈsä-fi-k(ə-)lē

also -ˈzä-

adverb

Example Sentences

They got into a philosophical debate about what it means for something to be “natural.” He's trying to be philosophical about their decision since he knows he can't change it.

Recent Examples on the Web The clever script is overtly philosophical and cautions against destructive moral frameworks, but also warns against intellectual stimulation divorced from reality and tangible action. —

Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2023 Joe’s employees were philosophical about the previous Powerball winner. —

Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2023 Another argument is more philosophical: Why should dead billionaires get credit for helping to solve contemporary problems through the foundations bearing their names? —

Nuri Heckler, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Jan. 2023 Arteta for his part was philosophical about the one injury blighting his otherwise rosy picture. —

Zak Garner-purkis, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2022 McCoy, who started all this in the first place, is more philosophical about the future of his creation. —

Joel Khalili, WIRED, 22 Dec. 2022 Chung, who counts scallion pancakes among his favorite dishes, is philosophical about the neighborhood’s changes. —

Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Dec. 2022 However, talking about political or philosophical subjects might cause arguments -- or at least intense debates. —

Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2023 Norco belongs to a new wave of text-heavy games, like Disco Elysium and Kentucky Route Zero, which playfully interrogate political and philosophical ideas within a fantastical context. —

Clayton Purdom, Chron, 5 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'philosophical.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.