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
Synonyms
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
Johnson is currently facing an existential threat to his speakership led by conservative rabble rouser Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who is seeking to force the speaker out from his post for working with Democrats to pass legislation, including Ukraine aid.
—
USA TODAY, 30 Apr. 2024
Efforts by Israel’s far-right government to advance West Bank annexation and thwart the possibility of Palestinian statehood could pose an existential threat to the Hashemite regime, as Iran reportedly seeks to expand its network of proxies to Jordan and capitalize on growing anti-Israel sentiment.
—TIME, 22 Apr. 2024
Beyond support in the short term, however, the broader question doubles as the existential issue in Berkeley: Will the school embrace athletes as employees when that NCAA change becomes official in a few years?
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Tense, disturbing, riveting, Alex Garland’s dystopian film Civil War examines an existential threat preying on the American sub-conscious: What would happen if the political and social divisions cleaving the United States ultimately collapse the nation into the abyss?
—Eisa Nefertari Ulen, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024
The traditionally press-shy Viagogo boss has been going on the offensive in recent months as the group faces the existential threat of a price cap on ticket resales, which would crush its business model.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 15 Apr. 2024
Tehran has also pursued a nuclear program—now closer than ever to producing a weapon—that Israeli officials view as an existential threat.
—Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2024
Targeting threats For the northern quoll, a small marsupial predator, the existential threat arrived nearly a century ago, when the invasive, poisonous cane toad landed in eastern Australia.
—Emily Anthes Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
For high-end chocolate brands, whose products use lots of cocoa, the recent price hikes are reportedly an existential threat.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2024
USA TODAY, 30 Apr. 2024
Efforts by Israel’s far-right government to advance West Bank annexation and thwart the possibility of Palestinian statehood could pose an existential threat to the Hashemite regime, as Iran reportedly seeks to expand its network of proxies to Jordan and capitalize on growing anti-Israel sentiment.
—TIME, 22 Apr. 2024
Beyond support in the short term, however, the broader question doubles as the existential issue in Berkeley: Will the school embrace athletes as employees when that NCAA change becomes official in a few years?
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Tense, disturbing, riveting, Alex Garland’s dystopian film Civil War examines an existential threat preying on the American sub-conscious: What would happen if the political and social divisions cleaving the United States ultimately collapse the nation into the abyss?
—Eisa Nefertari Ulen, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Apr. 2024
The traditionally press-shy Viagogo boss has been going on the offensive in recent months as the group faces the existential threat of a price cap on ticket resales, which would crush its business model.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 15 Apr. 2024
Tehran has also pursued a nuclear program—now closer than ever to producing a weapon—that Israeli officials view as an existential threat.
—Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2024
Targeting threats For the northern quoll, a small marsupial predator, the existential threat arrived nearly a century ago, when the invasive, poisonous cane toad landed in eastern Australia.
—Emily Anthes Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
For high-end chocolate brands, whose products use lots of cocoa, the recent price hikes are reportedly an existential threat.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'existential.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near existential
Cite this Entry
“Existential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/existential. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
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