EMPIRICAL Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

empirical

adjective

im-ˈpir-i-kəl

variants also empiric

Definition of empirical

as in observational

based on observation or experience guidelines for raising children that are based on empirical evidence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in verifiable

capable of being proven as true or real a philosopher who does not regard "God exists" as an empirical statement

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 empirical This study provides a first systematic empirical look at the psychological infrastructure that makes such violence conceivable. — Lisa Hagen, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026 Swain found that evidence lacked the kind of empirical testing and analytical rigor to be reliable. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2026 Per the authors, this is the first empirical evidence for motion dazzle effects produced by butterfly wings. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026 Only 2 percent of global investments have gone to circular businesses, according to estimates in the Circularity Gap Report Finance in 2025, the world’s first empirical study that quantified the financial streams to circular business models. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for empirical

Recent Examples of Synonyms for empirical

Adjective

Getting observational data from Thwaites’ grounding line is the next step, Rignot said.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Luminous The premiere-only section Luminous presents a wide range of styles and formalist approaches, from observational to personal to experimental.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of observational

Adjective

Distinguished by Miles Davis’ award-winning jazz score, the film established both Malle and Moreau as verifiable talents.

— Ed Meza, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
The facility lacks a verifiable method that informs food employees of their responsibility to report their health status in regards to illnesses that can spread through food.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of verifiable

Adjective

By any objective standard, that technology was outdated, labor-intensive, imprecise, and inefficient.

— Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
As a documentarian, Oppenheim felt that truth is what can be captured through preparation and sometimes by accident on relatively objective devices — cameras, microphones.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of objective

Adjective

Professors have encountered demonstrable issues with widespread cheating, with many forced to devise their own methods for eliminating unethical AI use.

— Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
America has witnessed a proliferation of voting rights groups with sound justification and demonstrable results, but there comes a point when there may be too much of a good thing.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026

Definition of demonstrable

Adjective

On Uncle, fish narc sheds his past experimental impulses and finds a new identity within ebullient, feel-good college rock.

— Jeff Yerger, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
Spanish scientists have developed an experimental type of self-disinfecting cotton fabric, which is activated via ordinary white light.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of experimental

Adjective

Binding it all together is the chain-of-custody record that includes every handoff between teams, vendors and systems, with verification signatures that make each component's provenance independently confirmable.

— Akash Pugalia, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Cekada is only the third person to be confirmed to lead the agency since the director's position was made confirmable in 2006.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 May 2026

Definition of confirmable

Adjective

In September, improvements in frontier models sparked industry-wide warnings of existential risks to humanity.

— Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
One thing everyone seems to agree on, though, is that Workday has the right stuff—cash, culture, existential verve—to do it.

— Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of existential

Adjective

Publish a useful, supportable answer, then listen for whether the next conversations change.

— Dennis Kirwan, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Claims about artificial intelligence must be technically accurate, operationally supportable, and consistent with the company’s financial results.

— Perrie M. Weiner, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026

Definition of supportable

Browse Nearby Words

empiric

empirical

empiricist

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“Empirical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empirical. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of empirical

adjective

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