as in empirical
based on observation or experience
her reports on the great apes were based on firsthand observational evidence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 observational
Blending her brew of observational humor with personal reflections on family, culture and everyday life, the Mexican-American comic has fresh material that reflects on adulthood and self-discovery for her latest show.
—
Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
Other observational studies have linked GLP-1 drugs to lower rates of new and recurring alcohol use disorder, reduced diagnoses and relapse in cannabis use disorder, fewer health care visits for nicotine dependence and lower risk of opioid overdose.
—Ziyad Al-Aly, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2026
Even Fleming’s more conventional observational humor is inextricable from his outre bodily maneuvers onstage.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
As an observational study, the new analysis showed that the GLP-1s are associated with reduced risk of substance use disorders and harms, not that the drugs themselves caused the reduction.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Other observational studies have linked GLP-1 drugs to lower rates of new and recurring alcohol use disorder, reduced diagnoses and relapse in cannabis use disorder, fewer health care visits for nicotine dependence and lower risk of opioid overdose.
—Ziyad Al-Aly, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
After all, audiences may be captivated by the psalm singing itself, but then can also find more things that capture their imagination in the observational doc.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
Fleming’s work is a hyperspecific, manic, digressive observational comedy buried inside a cloud of performance-art strangeness.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Communities living alongside these species possess observational knowledge that complements what visiting scientists can achieve in a five-day window.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
Other observational studies have linked GLP-1 drugs to lower rates of new and recurring alcohol use disorder, reduced diagnoses and relapse in cannabis use disorder, fewer health care visits for nicotine dependence and lower risk of opioid overdose.
—Ziyad Al-Aly, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2026
Even Fleming’s more conventional observational humor is inextricable from his outre bodily maneuvers onstage.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
As an observational study, the new analysis showed that the GLP-1s are associated with reduced risk of substance use disorders and harms, not that the drugs themselves caused the reduction.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Other observational studies have linked GLP-1 drugs to lower rates of new and recurring alcohol use disorder, reduced diagnoses and relapse in cannabis use disorder, fewer health care visits for nicotine dependence and lower risk of opioid overdose.
—Ziyad Al-Aly, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
After all, audiences may be captivated by the psalm singing itself, but then can also find more things that capture their imagination in the observational doc.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
Fleming’s work is a hyperspecific, manic, digressive observational comedy buried inside a cloud of performance-art strangeness.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Communities living alongside these species possess observational knowledge that complements what visiting scientists can achieve in a five-day window.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observational
Adjective
-
Second, those reasonable judgments are based on empirical projections, involving the capacities and likely performance of various institutions; though reasonable, the projections may not always be right.—
Cass Sunstein,
Big Think,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Does the empirical research match up with that common conception?—
Catherine A. Sanderson,
The Conversation,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The broader research community does not recommend the test, calling it inaccurate and experimental, and pointing to evidence that spinal taps are more accurate.—
Michal Ruprecht,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
-
If the rollout progresses as expected, the qualification of the Cornerstone Cell could mark an important step in bringing solid-state batteries from experimental development into practical commercial use across multiple industries.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s why there’s regulators like my office that care and will look and be objective and fair, thorough and comprehensive in our review and come to a conclusion.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Our best overall pair are the Canon 10x42 IS L WP binoculars for its good mid range magnification and 42mm objective lenses.—
Matt Morris,
Space.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Observational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observational. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
