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Definitions

nonexistent

ADJECTIVE
fictional, not real
Synonyms
STRONGEST
absent negative tenuous vacant
WEAK
airy baseless blank chimerical dead defunct departed dreamlike dreamy empty ethereal extinct extinguished fancied few and far between flimsy gone gossamery groundless hallucinatory hypothetical illusory imaginary imagined immaterial imponderable insubstantial legendary lost missing mythical null null and void passed away passed on perished shadowy ungrounded unreal unsubstantial vague vaporous void without foundation
Antonyms
WEAK
actual existent existing real true

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for nonexistent? 
Saying something is nonexistent is the same as saying that it doesn't exist. It can mean that the thing never existed, or that it did exist but doesn’t anymore. Nonexistent doesn't have a lot of close, single-word synonyms. But there are other ways to say the same thing. In some cases, you might describe the nonexistent thing as made-up, fabricated, fictional, a figment of someone’s imagination, or in some other way that implies that it's a product of imagination or deception and is not real at all. In other cases, you might use nonexistent to imply that something simply isn't present or available—that there is none of it. For example, instead of saying "The budget for this project is nonexistent," you might say "There is no budget for this project."
What is a synonym of almost nonexistent?
Saying that something is almost nonexistent means that it is almost gone or barely there—like the last remaining light at the end of a sunset. If you’re referring to the chances of something happening, you could say that it’s extremely unlikely. If you’re describing your abilities or skills in some area as being almost nonexistent, you could instead say that your skills are poor or basic at best.
What is the opposite (antonym) of nonexistent?
Nonexistent contains the prefix non-, which makes it mean “not existent.” Existent is, therefore, the direct opposite of nonexistent. The word existing can be used as an adjective to mean the same thing as existent. The word extant means in existence or, more commonly, still in existence. To reject the idea that something is nonexistent, you could call it real. To say that there is very much of something—as opposed to none of it—you could describe it as abundant. To disagree that the chances of something happening are nonexistent, you could say that it’s possible or even probable.
How do you use nonexistent in a sentence?
Nonexistent is a reasonably common word. We use it in quite a few different contexts. It’s sometimes used in the phrase almost nonexistent, which implies that something definitely exists but is almost gone or that there is very little of it. Here are some examples of nonexistent in a sentence:
  • Their chances of making the playoffs were slim, but after losing this game, their chances are nonexistent.
  • My drawing skills are nonexistent—I can’t even do stick figures.
  • Gilbert’s desire for a surprise birthday party was utterly nonexistent—and he made that obvious.
Is it nonexistent or non-existent?
Both nonexistent and non-existent are used, but nonexistent is a bit more common. As with many hyphenated terms, the hyphen is often dropped when the word becomes more commonly used.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Three attorneys are facing discipline from the State Bar of California after allegations that they cited nonexistent legal decisions in submitted court documents that were written using artificial intelligence.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

“The number of defaults are almost nonexistent and really troubled situations are very small,” Bissonnette said on last month’s earnings call.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

EBRI’s estimates for people enrolled in privatized Medicare Advantage are significantly lower, because it assumes they will be able to take advantage of the program’s lower, or even nonexistent, premiums.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 5, 2026

What if this iteration of “Wuthering Heights” exists precisely because it’s comforting to think the happiest ending is made possible by a nonexistent beginning?

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026

If gratitude is the heart’s memory, Bobby’s call to remembrance was weak or sometimes nonexistent.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Vocabulary lists containing nonexistent

Zilch, Zip, Nada: Words For Nothing

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Nobody's Home: Synonyms For "Absent"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

The Phantom Tollbooth

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!