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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Recent Examples of existential
Russia's war on Ukraine, now in its fourth year, is seen as an existential challenge in Europe and will weigh heavily on most policy debate.
—
arkansasonline.com, 4 July 2025
But Israel views it as an existential threat and said its military campaign was necessary to prevent Iran from building an atomic weapon.
—David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
Big Ag fears varieties of amaranth as an existential threat to industrial crops, since the plants are unperturbed by the industry’s arsenal of weed killers.
—Michael Shaikh
june 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025
Even the idea of empathy, Musk argues, is a kind of existential threat.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for existential
arkansasonline.com, 4 July 2025
But Israel views it as an existential threat and said its military campaign was necessary to prevent Iran from building an atomic weapon.
—David Rising, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
Big Ag fears varieties of amaranth as an existential threat to industrial crops, since the plants are unperturbed by the industry’s arsenal of weed killers.
—Michael Shaikh
june 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025
Even the idea of empathy, Musk argues, is a kind of existential threat.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for existential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for existential
Adjective
-
The result is a new breed of marketing initiatives that balance creative intuition with empirical validation, allowing executives to identify the precise line between boldness and recklessness.—
Gary Drenik,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Though it was hypothesized to be a pest-resisting tactic, there was no empirical evidence proving this.—
Jay Kakade
June 30,
New Atlas,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
By focusing on objective criteria and standardizing evaluation processes, AI agents can help ensure that all candidates are assessed fairly.—
Ray Culver,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Blain said in the statement that the independent investigative report — and the censure vote — were not objective inquiries, but the result of politics.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Participants were presented with a series of experimental questions along with two facial photographs, one of a bearded face and another of a non-bearded one.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
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The interaction was one of many highlights during the team’s three-day experimental broadcast, an interactive, behind-the-scenes look with a booth full of former players.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Existential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/existential. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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