existthough

Existthough is a neologism that has appeared in contemporary online discourse and some literary criticism. It denotes a stance or rhetorical device that asserts existence and agency in the face of existential anxiety, nihilism, or difficult circumstances. The term fuses exist and though, echoing the concessive function of though while foregrounding existence as a starting point rather than as a conclusion about meaning.

Origins and usage: There is no formal etymology or dictionary entry. Usage is informal and scattered in blogs, social media, and discussions of philosophy and literature. It can function as an interjection, a sentence adverb, or a fused expression in informal writing.

Examples: existthough the night is long, we persevere. Existthough, the odds are against us, our work continues. The precise nuance depends on context, but the term generally signals defiance, resilience, or a declaration of presence.

Reception and limitations: As a neologism, it is not standardized and may be ambiguous. Readers may interpret it as a stylistic flourish rather than a technical term, and it is mostly found in informal or creative contexts rather than academic writing.

See also: existentialism, absurdism, neologism, portmanteau.