as in empirical
based on observation or experience
her reports on the great apes were based on firsthand observational evidence
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Recent Examples of observational
Soder is a comic’s comic whose sharp observational style and affable demeanor has earned him a strong reputation on the club circuit.
—
Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 6 Apr. 2026
Field-trip training To hone their observational skills, the Artemis 2 crew did classroom training in lunar fundamentals.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
The systemic review included 28 observational studies with more than 86,000 participants who were followed for at least one year after experiencing a minor stroke.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
While many effects are identical, the observational challenges are far more severe for gravitational waves.
—Big Think, 3 Apr. 2026
This type of study combines and analyzes results from multiple previous investigations — in this case four observational studies that included nearly 37,000 pregnancies.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 2 Apr. 2026
The documentaries tended to be distanced, austere, observational; those that focused on the past (such as 2005’s Blockade, about the WWII siege of Leningrad, or 2019’s State Funeral, about the funeral of Stalin) were often built entirely from archival footage.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
His performances blended observational humor with stories drawn from life at sea.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
The observational study could not establish direct cause and effect, with the authors noting that more research is needed to address existing disparities.
—Dr. Anna Jinnah, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 6 Apr. 2026
Field-trip training To hone their observational skills, the Artemis 2 crew did classroom training in lunar fundamentals.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
The systemic review included 28 observational studies with more than 86,000 participants who were followed for at least one year after experiencing a minor stroke.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
While many effects are identical, the observational challenges are far more severe for gravitational waves.
—Big Think, 3 Apr. 2026
This type of study combines and analyzes results from multiple previous investigations — in this case four observational studies that included nearly 37,000 pregnancies.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 2 Apr. 2026
The documentaries tended to be distanced, austere, observational; those that focused on the past (such as 2005’s Blockade, about the WWII siege of Leningrad, or 2019’s State Funeral, about the funeral of Stalin) were often built entirely from archival footage.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
His performances blended observational humor with stories drawn from life at sea.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
The observational study could not establish direct cause and effect, with the authors noting that more research is needed to address existing disparities.
—Dr. Anna Jinnah, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observational
Adjective
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There is also growing empirical evidence that poorly implemented AI simply increases work intensity — flooding organizations with output that still requires human attention, judgment, and correction.—
Omar Abbosh,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
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Games of chance reflect the invention of a cultural technology that’s the direct ancestor of all of modern statistics—and all of empirical science.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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An experimental United States bomber went so high into the substratosphere after eclipse pictures Sunday that its four motors left a wake of frozen exhaust in the sky.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
8 Apr. 2026
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They’re also inspired by the experimental and avant garde sounds of Frank Zappa and the tape loop experiments of Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney.—
Jessica Meszaros,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Episode 3 is a little more objective.—
William Earl,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2026
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This might be particularly impactful coming from a computer, which users subconsciously view as more objective than a human.—
Allison Parshall,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Observational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observational. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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