philosophical
adjective
phil·o·soph·i·cal
ˌfi-lə-ˈsä-fi-kəl 
also -ˈzä-
variants
or less commonly philosophic
ˌfi-lə-ˈsä-fik
also -ˈzä-
1
a
: of or relating to philosophers or philosophy
b
: based on philosophy
2
: characterized by the attitude of a philosopher
specifically
: calm or unflinching in the face of trouble, defeat, or loss
Examples of philosophical in a Sentence
They got into a philosophical debate about what it means for something to be “natural.”
He's trying to be philosophical about their decision since he knows he can't change it.
Recent Examples on the Web
It was designed to make divorce easier for women by giving it philosophical justification.
—
Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2024
Pirsig used the ride to frame an intense philosophical work that was published to wide acclaim and is still relevant today.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
But the philosophical questions – What is a human being?
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
That question serves as the basis for both absurdist comedy and serious philosophical inquiry, though the line between the two is never totally fixed in place.
—Brad Sanders, SPIN, 10 Apr. 2024
The museum's philosophical beginnings can be traced as far back as 1915 when the Phoenix Women's Club began purchasing art for the Phoenix Municipal Collection.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
When asked about finding the truth amid contrasting accounts in an oral history, Brown turned philosophical.
—Ben Sisario, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Others take a more philosophical approach to the color of Jesus.
—John Blake, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
The show incorporates theological and philosophical questions about the existence of God, and characters demonstrate ingenuity, bravery, resilience and compassion.
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2024
Pirsig used the ride to frame an intense philosophical work that was published to wide acclaim and is still relevant today.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
But the philosophical questions – What is a human being?
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024
That question serves as the basis for both absurdist comedy and serious philosophical inquiry, though the line between the two is never totally fixed in place.
—Brad Sanders, SPIN, 10 Apr. 2024
The museum's philosophical beginnings can be traced as far back as 1915 when the Phoenix Women's Club began purchasing art for the Phoenix Municipal Collection.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
When asked about finding the truth amid contrasting accounts in an oral history, Brown turned philosophical.
—Ben Sisario, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Others take a more philosophical approach to the color of Jesus.
—John Blake, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
The show incorporates theological and philosophical questions about the existence of God, and characters demonstrate ingenuity, bravery, resilience and compassion.
—Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'philosophical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Philosophical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/philosophical. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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