existential
adjective
ex·is·ten·tial
ˌeg-(ˌ)zi-ˈsten(t)-shəl 
ˌek-(ˌ)si-
1
: of, relating to, or affirming existence
existential propositions
2
a
: grounded in existence or the experience of existence : empirical
b
: having being in time and space
3
existentially
adverb
Examples of existential in a Sentence
child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim believed that fairy tales help children cope with their existential anxieties and dilemmas
Recent Examples on the Web
The case poses an existential threat to Meta, which by some estimates earns about half of its U.S. advertising revenue from Instagram, while also giving the public its first real measure of how strongly the new Trump administration will follow up on its promises to take on Big Tech.
—
Jody Godoy, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
The threat of an EMP is existential and will require more planning and resilience.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Only nine countries are known to have nuclear weapons, and adding Iran to the list could pose an existential threat to its main adversary, Israel, and other nations.
—Lara Jakes, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
Ozon remains fascinated by existential mystery; compared with Alain Guiraudie’s phantasmagorical Misericordia, his vision seems more uncanny than ever.
—Armond White, National Review, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for existential
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.
Jody Godoy, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
The threat of an EMP is existential and will require more planning and resilience.
—Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Only nine countries are known to have nuclear weapons, and adding Iran to the list could pose an existential threat to its main adversary, Israel, and other nations.
—Lara Jakes, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
Ozon remains fascinated by existential mystery; compared with Alain Guiraudie’s phantasmagorical Misericordia, his vision seems more uncanny than ever.
—Armond White, National Review, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for existential
Cite this Entry
“Existential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/existential. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share