anecdotal
adjective
an·ec·dot·al
ˌa-nik-ˈdō-tᵊl 
1
: based on or consisting of reports or observations of usually unscientific observers
anecdotal evidence
health benefits that may be more anecdotal than factual
2
a
: of, relating to, or consisting of anecdotes
an anecdotal biography
b
: given to or skilled in telling anecdotes : anecdotic sense 2
my anecdotal uncle
3
: of, relating to, or being the depiction of a scene suggesting a story
anecdotal details
Examples of anecdotal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Evidence of increasing behavioral incidents in South Dakota’s schools is largely anecdotal, not always quantitative, and difficult to track.
—
Morgan Matzen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 17 Feb. 2026
Tenuous evidence of mass exodus Sensor Tower’s user data more fundamentally seems to suggest that beyond anecdotal claims, users have largely been unable to identify tangible changes in TikTok’s American operations, or at least, not enough to meaningfully shift user sentiment.
—Matthew Chin, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
Dreher emerged from the conservative blogosphere in the 2000s and won fans with his daily stream of testy opinions and unguarded anecdotal writing.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
But amid anecdotal struggles to share the sidewalk, there is a growing movement to slow the robot rollout, including petition drives, residential meetings and rumblings of political pressure to reexamine the pilot program.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
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Morgan Matzen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 17 Feb. 2026
Tenuous evidence of mass exodus Sensor Tower’s user data more fundamentally seems to suggest that beyond anecdotal claims, users have largely been unable to identify tangible changes in TikTok’s American operations, or at least, not enough to meaningfully shift user sentiment.
—Matthew Chin, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
Dreher emerged from the conservative blogosphere in the 2000s and won fans with his daily stream of testy opinions and unguarded anecdotal writing.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
But amid anecdotal struggles to share the sidewalk, there is a growing movement to slow the robot rollout, including petition drives, residential meetings and rumblings of political pressure to reexamine the pilot program.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for anecdotal
Cite this Entry
“Anecdotal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anecdotal. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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