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 administrative logic is hopelessly out of touch with the empirical reality of American health care. — David S. Shapiro, STAT, 30 June 2026 These results are the empirical fuel SkyDrive needs to advance its certification process with Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and, eventually, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). — Omar Kardoudi june 26, New Atlas, 26 June 2026 General Motors Anderson sees design and human ingenuity falling into three main epochs, beginning with thousands of years of empirical design that saw creators largely mimicking nature, building and testing models, and advancing from there—slowly, expensively, and narrowly focused. — IEEE Spectrum, 17 June 2026 Additional empirical evidence, including examination of the raccoon genome, is needed to know for sure. — Shoshi Parks, Popular Science, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for empirical

Recent Examples of Synonyms for empirical

Adjective

While the mission was designed with dark energy, dark matter, and exoplanets in mind, Roman’s unprecedented observational capability will offer practically limitless opportunities for astronomers to explore all kinds of cosmic topics.

— Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 July 2026
Discuss Hidden Factors Instead Of Selling Features In high-trust industries, skepticism usually decreases when the conversation becomes less transactional and more observational.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of observational

Adjective

Counties investigate these cases, and officials acknowledge that fraud exists, but neither the state nor local property appraisers publish verifiable statewide fraud statistics.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026
When deployed as a supporting layer, DLT can introduce a verifiable record that strengthens traceability across systems that were not originally designed to work together.

— Maghnus Mareneck, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of verifiable

Adjective

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
Translate each core value into demonstrable behaviors, hiring criteria, decision-making frameworks and performance expectations.

— Amanda Pascale, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Definition of demonstrable

Adjective

To verify what was happening inside the material, the team combined several experimental techniques.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
All three have released solo albums that further expand their palettes, moving into ambient (Vida), experimental (Stardrum), and singer/songwriter (Epstein) realms.

— Reed Jackson, SPIN, 3 July 2026

Definition of experimental

Adjective

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
Cekada is only the third person to be confirmed to lead the agency since the director’s position was made confirmable in 2006.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026

Definition of confirmable

Adjective

On their debut album, the Detroit musician skewers social-climbing scene darlings and tackles personal existential delusions over a frenetic blend of post-punk and electro-pop.

— Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026
That impulse to speculate about the existential dimension of AI increasingly feels like a luxury, given how thoroughly it’s been integrated into virtually every sector of our economy.

— Meghan O’Gieblyn, The New York Review of Books, 11 July 2026

Definition of existential

Adjective

The output has to be supportable, reviewable and grounded in information that can actually survive scrutiny later.

— Arun Ramakrishnan, Forbes.com, 1 June 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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empiric

empirical

empiricist

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Style

“Empirical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empirical. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of empirical

adjective

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