an existential challenge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an existential challenge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant and fundamental problem or difficulty that affects one's existence or way of life. Example: "Climate change poses an existential challenge to humanity, threatening our very survival and the future of our planet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Winning them back is an existential challenge.

The Guardian

The advent of the Internet presented an existential challenge to bundles.

The New York Times

The project faced an existential challenge when some of our initial basic assumptions proved unworkable.

The New York Times

"This is an existential challenge to the oil and gas companies.

The Guardian

If that proves correct, then the party faces an existential challenge.

The Guardian - Books

To be reduced to eight seats was a generational collapse, perhaps even an existential challenge.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Together they pose a potentially existential challenge for a country that should be a source of inspiration, the nation that set the Arab spring in motion and the only one that has managed to shepherd its revolution into a peaceful, functioning democracy.

The Guardian

As a consequence, not only does American democracy face an unprecedented existential challenge, so does American Catholicism.

Huffington Post

It's a major existential challenge to the average 17-year-old whose complex sense of self is hard to sum up in a few lines.

The Guardian

All of them were at war and many of them were represented by people whose nations were going through a traumatic existential challenge.

The Guardian - Opinion

A successful Enquirer cover can drive sales fifteen per cent above the weekly average of three hundred and twenty-five thousand copies, and a lemon can hurt sales just as badly, so the choice of cover headlines and photographs represents a nearly existential challenge every week.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context clearly establishes what is facing this fundamental threat, making the significance of the challenge immediately apparent to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "an existential challenge" to describe everyday problems or minor inconveniences. This dilutes the phrase's impact and suggests a lack of understanding of its true meaning. Reserve it for genuinely critical situations that threaten core aspects of existence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an existential challenge" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. It identifies a significant and fundamental problem affecting existence, as demonstrated by Ludwig in various examples related to politics, environment, and technology.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an existential challenge" is a noun phrase used to describe a fundamental problem that threatens the existence or core values of something. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and media, to emphasize the seriousness of a situation. While it should be reserved for significant issues, its prevalence makes it a valuable term for highlighting critical threats to various entities, from political systems to the environment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fundamental challenge

Replaces "existential" with "fundamental", focusing on the basic and essential nature of the challenge.

a critical challenge

Substitutes "existential" with "critical", highlighting the importance and urgency of the challenge.

a core challenge

Replaces "existential" with "core", emphasizing the central and vital nature of the challenge.

a basic challenge

Substitutes "existential" with "basic", focusing on the fundamental aspect of the challenge.

a profound challenge

Replaces "existential" with "profound", highlighting the deep and significant nature of the challenge.

a deep-seated challenge

Adds "deep-seated" to emphasize the entrenched and fundamental nature of the challenge.

a threat to existence

Rephrases the challenge as a direct threat to survival or continuation.

a survival threat

Focuses on the aspect of survival, indicating that the challenge endangers existence.

a life-or-death situation

Uses a more dramatic expression to convey the seriousness of the challenge.

a matter of life and death

Emphasizes the high stakes involved, indicating that the challenge has significant consequences for existence.

FAQs

How can I use "an existential challenge" in a sentence?

You can use "an existential challenge" to describe something threatening the core existence of something. For example: "Climate change represents "an existential challenge" to coastal communities".

What is a less formal alternative to "an existential challenge"?

While "an existential challenge" carries a formal tone, you can use phrases like "a fundamental problem" or "a critical issue" as less formal, yet still serious, alternatives.

What's the difference between "an existential threat" and "an existential challenge"?

"An existential threat" directly implies a danger to continued existence, while "an existential challenge" suggests a difficulty that tests the core values or foundations of something, potentially leading to its transformation or end. The former is more immediate and perilous.

Is it appropriate to use "an existential challenge" in a business context?

Yes, if a company faces a fundamental threat to its business model or long-term survival. For instance, disruption from new technologies could pose "an existential challenge" to traditional businesses.