existential

adjective

ˌeg-(ˌ)zi-ˈsten(t)-shəl How to pronounce existential (audio)
Definition of existentialnext
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

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 New York — The past several weeks have brought a rash of dire warnings about artificial intelligence posing existential risks to humanity. — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2026 Cases of the week often extend into what feels like contemporary science-fiction, where the drastic implications of Big Tech’s overreach represent the existential threat to humanity they’re often feared (or touted) to be. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026 Moving between comedy, crime, romance and existential drama, The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight takes inspiration from the energetic and experimental spirit of 1960s New Wave cinema. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 Abiy, who has described this as an existential issue for his country, was not specific but neighboring Eritrea’s Red Sea port of Assab has long been seen by some in the government as a possible prize. — Damian Zane, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for existential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for existential
  1. empirical
  2. observational
  3. objective
  4. experimental
Adjective
  • The risks posed by obesity, however, are based on more empirical data.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Both Fontaines were scouts well ahead of the deep empirical and objective analysis of baseball data — sabermetrics is the catchall term — that some believe has made scouts obsolete.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of empirical
Adjective
  • Getting observational data from Thwaites’ grounding line is the next step, Rignot said.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Luminous The premiere-only section Luminous presents a wide range of styles and formalist approaches, from observational to personal to experimental.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of observational
Adjective
  • Oklahoma Voice provides original, objective reporting examining the intersection of policy, impact and power.
    — Dara Kass, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026
  • On an objective level, this is so close to n log n that the distinction almost doesn’t matter.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of objective
Adjective
  • On Uncle, fish narc sheds his past experimental impulses and finds a new identity within ebullient, feel-good college rock.
    — Jeff Yerger, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Spanish scientists have developed an experimental type of self-disinfecting cotton fabric, which is activated via ordinary white light.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of experimental

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Cite this Entry

“Existential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/existential. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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