as in empirical
based on observation or experience
her reports on the great apes were based on firsthand observational evidence
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Recent Examples of observational
Glenn co-authored a large observational study on the effects of the portfolio diet, which published in 2023.
—
Renée Onque, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
An observational study from the American Heart Association (AHA) examined five years of health records of 130,828 adults with insomnia, half of whom used melatonin for at least one year.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
The researchers stated that their findings, as an observational study, have limitations and that a cause-and-effect relationship cannot yet be firmly established.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
But the researchers note that their video is just observational.
—Outside, 3 Nov. 2025
Unfortunately for Copernicus, the geocentric predictions were more accurate — with fewer and smaller observational discrepancies — than the heliocentric model.
—Big Think, 30 Oct. 2025
The observational study included more than 3,500 women with an average age of 52 and used the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire to examine how many of them had dry eye disease.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 29 Oct. 2025
The findings were based on an observational study that analyzed data from over 33,000 adults in the UK Biobank.
—Gina Park, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
As of yet, there is no direct observational evidence for inflation, so sorting out its details is a task for theorists.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2025
Renée Onque, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
An observational study from the American Heart Association (AHA) examined five years of health records of 130,828 adults with insomnia, half of whom used melatonin for at least one year.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
The researchers stated that their findings, as an observational study, have limitations and that a cause-and-effect relationship cannot yet be firmly established.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
But the researchers note that their video is just observational.
—Outside, 3 Nov. 2025
Unfortunately for Copernicus, the geocentric predictions were more accurate — with fewer and smaller observational discrepancies — than the heliocentric model.
—Big Think, 30 Oct. 2025
The observational study included more than 3,500 women with an average age of 52 and used the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire to examine how many of them had dry eye disease.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 29 Oct. 2025
The findings were based on an observational study that analyzed data from over 33,000 adults in the UK Biobank.
—Gina Park, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
As of yet, there is no direct observational evidence for inflation, so sorting out its details is a task for theorists.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observational
Adjective
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This work is a foundational step toward applying insights from fundamental physics to the empirical study of human creativity and complex decision-making processes.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
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Wilken repeatedly emphasized the three cases involve claims under antitrust law, not other areas of law, and whether other areas of law are impacted would require separate litigation, with evidence, testimony and empirical analysis.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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They’re joined by Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams, Ira Sachs’ experimental Peter Hujar’s Day, Johnny Depp’s curious Modigliani biopic Modi and Lost & Found In Cleveland, which is testing a new digital theatrical marketplace.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
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An experimental serum shows promise in reversing baldness within 20 days.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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According to a staff report, the project complies with Antioch’s General Plan as well as zoning and objective standards.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
6 Nov. 2025
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The evidence of decline is seen in objective behavior, not just self-reporting.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Observational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observational. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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