EXISTING Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

existing 1 of 2

adjective

as in extant

having being at the present time existing breeds of the turkey that graces our Thanksgiving table are said to bear little resemblance to the gamy birds that the Pilgrims enjoyed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

existing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of exist

as in living

to have life strive to have a full, rich life rather than merely exist

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of existing

Adjective

The parties have met twice since and still have not settled on how existing treaties should govern the technique. — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 The distortions are especially striking given the actor’s pre-existing place in the pantheon of TV moms. — Alison Herman, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026 Any federal healthcare policy reform should always put the patient's needs first, and that includes protecting coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions. — Wcco Staff, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 Therefore, their rotors would operate at higher elevations while existing turbines continue generating electricity below. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026 The new penalties align with pre-existing rules on Singapore’s subway system. — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026 These would vary from game-to-game, but generally encompass pre-existing events like boss fights, loading screens, and transitions out of cutscenes. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 23 Sep. 2026 Common exclusions can include pre-existing conditions, improper maintenance or installation, structural problems and certain issues involving rust, corrosion or sediment buildup. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026 There was a pre-existing agreement in place specifically between Netflix and Skydance Animation that was announced in 2023, with the latter label ultimately falling under Paramount post-merger. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026

Verb

The Weld County facility will complement BAE Systems’ existing production operations in Boulder, Broomfield and Westminster. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026 However, criminals can also target your existing bank accounts, retirement savings, government benefits and phone number without triggering a traditional credit alert. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Interest rates could be a tough sell Many down payment assistance programs offer interest-free loans to homebuyers, including an existing program run by CalHFA. — Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026 Users can create forms or complete existing ones using text fields, checkboxes, and other elements. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for existing

Adjective

The Ramos Gin Fizz thrives as the last extant representative of the category, like Macy’s Herald Square or modern day Vienna, a decadent and baroque monument to a once-vast empire.

— Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2026
To be clear, none of these can be detected with our extant fleet of telescopes.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of extant

Verb

But the movement has widened to include workers demanding relief from rising living costs, making the government’s task broader than resolving a dispute over university admissions.

— Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
The first vote tallies came in from Brazilians living overseas, where Lula won a decisive victory in Germany, and Bolsonaro won an overwhelming victory in Japan.

— David Unsworth , Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of living

Browse Nearby Words

existents

existing

exists

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Existing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/existing. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of existing

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes