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 These experimental venues have garnered the attention of sports fans, screening live matchups in an arena-like environment. — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026 Even given the positive results, this technology is still in its early stages, and Lollylab remains an experimental prototype, at least for now. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 7 Nov. 2026 Organoids also are used to assess the effectiveness and toxicity of experimental drugs in organlike conditions that closely resemble real-world effects in human tissues. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Nov. 2026 For now, PhoneBot is best viewed as an experimental platform. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 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
  • Perhaps the better place to look is Bronny's production in the G League — the NBA's developmental league — where James got considerably more playing time per game.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The current rebuild means that this is a developmental team and a developmental season for Miami.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of developmental
Adjective
  • But the way Honda is combining hands-on orientation with engineer-friendly schooling (like explaining off-road recoveries in empirical measures) seems like a great path to building a team that really cares about, and understands, its products.
    — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 28 Oct. 2026
  • During high-temperature runs conducted in September, engineers collected new empirical data to evaluate core behavior under extreme heat.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of empirical
Adjective
  • Those are just a few of the details in the Sweetwater Police Department’s investigative report that led to the arrest of three men.
    — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 14 Nov. 2026
  • The Andersons are considering funding another major investigative endeavor for next year and are hoping to find some partners.
    — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of investigative
Adjective
  • An observational study published in 2022 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) found that adults who consumed more than half a tablespoon of olive oil per day had a 19% lower risk of death from heart disease.
    — Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 12 Nov. 2026
  • However, observational studies cannot establish that the drugs themselves caused the lower dementia risk.
    — Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of observational
Adjective
  • To prevent the seed heads from reseeding, do a preliminary light prune by trimming off the tops in fall, then cut the clumps back fully in spring.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Some Arizona cities have agreed to fund preliminary work to reduce reliance on the Colorado River by expanding an existing dam on the Verde River to capture runoff from storms, Svoma said.
    — Wufei Yu, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of preliminary
Adjective
  • The credentialing process itself is objective and requires a security clearance and some other criteria be met that are objective, that have nothing to do with the content or viewpoint of reporting.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Unifying early creative and planning phases with advanced analytics ensures downstream execution is driven by objective market signals rather than isolated guessing.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of objective
Adjective
  • The flight crew included pilot 55-year-old Jeff Gregory, according to reports, and co-pilot 20-year-old Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras of Palm Beach.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The victims included 20-year-old co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, as well as technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife, Helen Sharp, and their two young children, relatives said.
    — David Fischer, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 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 14 Nov. 2026.

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