variants
also empiric
1
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
2
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
The discipline has built a vast array of empirical theses deep inside this single ideology—liberalism—and, in doing so, has naturalized it.
—
Jason Blakely, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Myrick marshals an impressive array of empirical data to document patterns of extreme polarization within democracies and its impact on international relations.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Moreover, solid empirical evidence of the effectiveness of door-to-door canvassing is limited.
—Stuart Soroka, Fortune, 10 Dec. 2025
The teaching assistant said the essay lacked empirical evidence, which was not a requirement in the grading rubric, which cited three criteria for grading.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for empirical
Jason Blakely, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Myrick marshals an impressive array of empirical data to document patterns of extreme polarization within democracies and its impact on international relations.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Moreover, solid empirical evidence of the effectiveness of door-to-door canvassing is limited.
—Stuart Soroka, Fortune, 10 Dec. 2025
The teaching assistant said the essay lacked empirical evidence, which was not a requirement in the grading rubric, which cited three criteria for grading.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for empirical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for empirical
Adjective
-
Campos and her colleagues stress that their role is strictly observational — never to interfere.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Because of this alignment, Regulus has played an important role in both observational astronomy and ancient sky calendars.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Council members Bob Blumenfield and Eunisses Hernandez aim to maximize fines and fees for any individuals impersonating a federal, state or local law enforcement agent, as well as to ensure residents’ can rightfully request verifiable identification of masked, non-uniformed or unmarked individuals.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Instead, the agency has claimed savings of between $160 billion and $210 billion, and even those figures are highly disputed, with news reports saying the amounts are vastly inflated and verifiable savings are much lower.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Having direct knowledge of the volcano provides a much more objective sense of the limits of their analysis, Calò said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Jan. 2026
-
An independent campus security risk assessment conducted by outside experts provides an objective review of vulnerabilities that internal reviews may miss.—
Rick Pozniak,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
These suits frequently transfer millions from corporate balance sheets to predatory law firms, with little or no demonstrable benefit to investors.—
Shane Goodwin,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The path to sustainable profitability winds upward, built by those who dare to invest in quality and understand that valuable customer relationships are forged through demonstrable excellence.—
Peter Su,
Rolling Stone,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The result is both the band’s most experimental and cohesive record to date, a mass of cosmic krautrock, dreary ambient synths, and eerie avant-garde touches that guarantee any conventional song structure or form could never take root.—
David Glickman,
Pitchfork,
14 Jan. 2026
-
However, that view has now been overturned by experimental evidence.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Given the Restaurants are all in various stages, the timelines for each are not confirmable at this time.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
14 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
My acceptance precipitated an existential crisis since the job was so distant from what I’d been trained to do.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
From his social critique mixtape Guía para la Acción (2007) to the existential darkness of his second and final studio album, Muerte (2012), Canserbero’s catalog stands as a visceral reflection of the dark era the nation navigated during the first two decades of the millennium.—
Leonor C. Suárez,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But under questioning from Cruz, Vladeck conceded that approving a nondisclosure order without any factual proffer would be inconsistent with a judge’s oath, if that hypothetical were true.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The producer is Angie Daniell, the casting director is Jenny Duffy, the factual producer is Louise Kentleton and director of production is Lianne Hickey.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Empirical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empirical. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
