empirical

adjective

im-ˈpir-i-kəl How to pronounce empirical (audio)
variants also empiric
Definition of empiricalnext
1
as in observational
based on observation or experience guidelines for raising children that are based on empirical evidence

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in verifiable
capable of being proven as true or real a philosopher who does not regard "God exists" as an empirical statement

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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
  1. observational
  2. verifiable
  3. objective
  4. demonstrable
  5. experimental
  6. confirmable
  7. existential
  8. supportable
Adjective
  • The Swedish polymath explores the sounds, language, and imagery of Americana on a drolly observational singer-songwriter album.
    — Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Mike Elliott, senior director of Banner Sports Medicine High Performance Center, told Banner Health that most of the available research is observational and shows association rather than direct cause.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 22 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
  • For boards and CXOs, fault tolerance, error correction, economics and demonstrable advantage still matter.
    — Rajjie Sarmey, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 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
  • But the question for a lot of us, once the box arrives, becomes more existential.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The fear of contagion posed an existential threat to London’s burgeoning theater industry.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 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

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Cite this Entry

“Empirical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empirical. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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