Philosophical — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˌfi-lə-ˈsä-fi-kəl/ phil·o·soph·i·cal

Meaning & Definition of Philosophical

Philosophical (adjective)

  1. of or relating to philosophers or philosophy
  2. based on philosophy
  3. characterized by the attitude of a philosopher; specifically, calm or unflinching in the face of trouble, defeat, or loss

Philosophical (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being, given to, or marked by deep thinking especially about fundamental questions of the world

    "A philosophical person by nature, she spent many hours in deep thought about the great mysteries of life."

    similar: introspective, retrospective, self-reflective, earnest, grave, sedate, serious, serious-minded, severe, sober, solemn, somber, weighty, analytic, logical, rational, deliberate, purposeful, absentminded, abstracted, preoccupied, broody, cogitative, contemplative, meditative, melancholy, musing, pensive, reflective, ruminant, ruminative, thoughtful
    opposite: featherbrained, flighty, flippant, frivolous, goofy, harebrained, light-headed, scatterbrained, brainless, mindless, silly, thoughtless, unthinking, unreflective

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Philosophical

The most common words with a similar meaning to Philosophical:

introspective, retrospective, self-reflective, earnest, grave, sedate, serious, serious-minded, severe, sober, solemn, somber, weighty, analytic, logical, rational, deliberate, purposeful, absentminded, abstracted, preoccupied, broody, cogitative, contemplative, meditative, melancholy, musing, pensive, reflective, ruminant, ruminative, thoughtful

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Philosophical

Words with the opposite meaning of Philosophical:

featherbrained, flighty, flippant, frivolous, goofy, harebrained, light-headed, scatterbrained, brainless, mindless, silly, thoughtless, unthinking, unreflective

Word Forms of Philosophical

Derived words: philosophically (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Philosophical

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Philosophical

Words & Phrases Containing Philosophical

philosophical analysis

Frequently Asked Questions about Philosophical

What does "Philosophical" mean?

"Philosophical" means of or relating to philosophers or philosophy. As an adjective, it is defined as: of or relating to philosophers or philosophy.

What is another word for "Philosophical"?

Other words for "Philosophical" include introspective, retrospective, self-reflective, earnest, grave, sedate, serious and serious-minded. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Philosophical" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Philosophical"?

There are 32 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Philosophical". Common alternatives include introspective, retrospective, self-reflective, earnest, grave, sedate, serious, serious-minded, severe and sober.

What is the opposite of "Philosophical"?

Antonyms of "Philosophical" include featherbrained, flighty, flippant, frivolous, goofy, harebrained, light-headed and scatterbrained.

How do you use "Philosophical" in a sentence?

Examples of "Philosophical" in a sentence: "A philosophical person by nature, she spent many hours in deep thought about the great mysteries of life.".

Is "Philosophical" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Philosophical" is an adjective.

Is "Philosophical" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Philosophical" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Philosophical"?

"Philosophical" is pronounced /ˌfi-lə-ˈsä-fi-kəl/ and divided into syllables as phil·o·soph·i·cal.