Darwinian
adjective
Dar·win·i·an
där-ˈwi-nē-ən 
1
: of or relating to Charles Darwin, his theories especially of evolution, or his followers
2
: of, relating to, or being a competitive environment or situation in which only the fittest persons or organizations prosper
Darwinian
noun
Examples of Darwinian in a Sentence
a Darwinian approach to evolution
The competition among manufacturers is very Darwinian.
the Darwinian world of professional sports
Recent Examples on the Web
Much like Darwinian theory, organizations that don’t adapt are likely to go extinct.
—
Quid Contributor, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024
This can be mentally taxing — an artist's position is never safe — and cruelly Darwinian.
—Elias Leight, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2024
If only through a Darwinian process, the Russian army has at last found some competent planners and battlefield commanders.
—Barry R. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 4 Jan. 2023
Her rabbits, kittens, mice and squirrels are anthropomorphized, but there is a ruthless, survival-of-the-fittest ethos always in the background, creating a surreal fusion of quaint, cozy English domesticity and stern, Darwinian rigor.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
About the impact of the unearthing of the dinosaurs and other fossils, of Darwinian evolution, of geology’s discovery of deep time.
—William Deresiewicz, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
Of course, as with any emerging pursuit, Darwinian selection will have its say on the ultimate survivors.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2024
The story itself is ludicrous, centering around the Mishima family, a lineage of martial artists/corporate criminals perpetually hell bent on patricide as sons, fathers, grandfathers, and even great grandfathers take a Darwinian approach to parenting in the struggle to maintain power.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2024
Elite sport is unapologetically cutthroat, inherently Darwinian.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Quid Contributor, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024
This can be mentally taxing — an artist's position is never safe — and cruelly Darwinian.
—Elias Leight, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2024
If only through a Darwinian process, the Russian army has at last found some competent planners and battlefield commanders.
—Barry R. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 4 Jan. 2023
Her rabbits, kittens, mice and squirrels are anthropomorphized, but there is a ruthless, survival-of-the-fittest ethos always in the background, creating a surreal fusion of quaint, cozy English domesticity and stern, Darwinian rigor.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
About the impact of the unearthing of the dinosaurs and other fossils, of Darwinian evolution, of geology’s discovery of deep time.
—William Deresiewicz, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
Of course, as with any emerging pursuit, Darwinian selection will have its say on the ultimate survivors.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2024
The story itself is ludicrous, centering around the Mishima family, a lineage of martial artists/corporate criminals perpetually hell bent on patricide as sons, fathers, grandfathers, and even great grandfathers take a Darwinian approach to parenting in the struggle to maintain power.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2024
Elite sport is unapologetically cutthroat, inherently Darwinian.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
Dictionary Entries Near Darwinian
Cite this Entry
“Darwinian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Darwinian. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
Darwinian
adjective
Dar·win·ian
där-ˈwin-ē-ən
: of or relating to Charles Darwin, his theories especially of evolution, or his followers
Darwinian
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share