experimental

adjective

ik-ˌsper-ə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce experimental (audio)
Definition of experimentalnext
1
as in developmental
made or done as an experiment an experimental procedure for patients suffering from leukemia

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in empirical
based on observation or experience asserted that experimental knowledge is vastly superior to idle speculation and theorizing

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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 experimental Shares of Merck have jumped 45% year to date as clinical trials for its investigational and experimental drugs continue to produce positive results. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 When Paul develops an experimental drug that improves communication, his obsession to see Theo speak threatens to destroy his family. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026 Moderna and Merck said Wednesday their experimental mRNA cancer vaccine successfully reduced recurrence of melanoma, and prevented the deadly skin cancer from spreading to other organs, in a large trial. — Peter Weber, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026 Eli Lilly, maker of Zepbound, said a study showed people on its experimental, next-generation weight-loss shot retatrutide achieved weight loss of 19% to 28%. — Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for experimental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for experimental
  1. developmental
  2. empirical
  3. investigative
  4. observational
  5. preliminary
  6. objective
  7. pilot
Adjective
  • Prunty brings speed to the secondary that perhaps only Christian Gonzalez can match and has a good argument to make the roster as a developmental outside corner.
    — Chad Graff, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • By nearly every economic, political, and developmental indicator, the Middle East under American domination has performed far worse than any other region.
    — MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of developmental
Adjective
  • Allowing subjective confidence to silently acquire the epistemological status of empirical verification is neither verification nor evidence.
    — Hamilton Mann, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Whether employee ownership produces similar results is ultimately an empirical question, not an ideological one.
    — David I. Levine, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of empirical
Adjective
  • While investigators have been able to use DNA analysis and traditional investigative work to identify three of the other sets of remains found in 2022, the identity of the Hemenway Harbor homicide victim has proven far more elusive.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The film, which will be given a theatrical and digital release, blends archival footage, firsthand interviews, and investigative storytelling.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of investigative
Adjective
  • The film’s observational intensity yields a form of symbolic realism that highlights both the action and its import—both the drama and the ideas and systems that undergird it.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Stephen Maing has upheld a standard of excellence in observational filmmaking through his works.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of observational
Adjective
  • An inmate ran out of a preliminary hearing at the Fairfield Courthouse Tuesday afternoon, knocking down a deputy district attorney and making it out of the courtroom before he was quickly apprehended, the Solano County Sheriff's Office said.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The filings come in the wake of a week-long preliminary hearing in early July aimed at determining whether there is enough probable cause to send the case to trial.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of preliminary
Adjective
  • Unfortunately, performance reviews are not always objective assessments of work.
    — Lauren Russell, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Still, an objective case for Wang’s positive influence doesn’t want for evidence.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of objective
Adjective
  • The result is a system that, in the long term, could carry out sub hunting autonomously, but in the short term acts as an onboard co-pilot, freeing up human operators while doubling sonobuoy processing capacity.
    — David Szondy August 12, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Lemmon, 31, and her co-pilot Bland, 52, were killed in the crash, along with Barker’s assistant Baker, 29, and his bodyguard Still, 25.
    — Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of pilot

Browse Nearby Words

experiment
experimental
experimentation
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Cite this Entry

“Experimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/experimental. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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