EMPIRICAL Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

empirical

adjective

im-ˈpir-i-kəl

variants also empiric

Definition of empirical

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

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 Swain found that evidence lacked the kind of empirical testing and analytical rigor to be reliable. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2026 Per the authors, this is the first empirical evidence for motion dazzle effects produced by butterfly wings. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026 Only 2 percent of global investments have gone to circular businesses, according to estimates in the Circularity Gap Report Finance in 2025, the world’s first empirical study that quantified the financial streams to circular business models. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026 Researchers have hypothesized that quantum effects are at play in a variety of biological phenomena — including the magnetic sense that helps birds navigate and, more speculatively, human consciousness — with varying degrees of empirical support. — Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for empirical

Recent Examples of Synonyms for empirical

Adjective

TikTok is a hotbed of beauty recommendations, but building a skin-care routine around products promoted on social media comes with risk, a small new observational study suggests.

— Korin Miller, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026
The Roku Channel has greenlit Scarlett Holmes, a limited series that will star Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars, 2024’s F*** Marry Kill) as a descendant of Sherlock Holmes who has inherited the family’s observational powers.

— Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of observational

Adjective

Both Fontaines were scouts well ahead of the deep empirical and objective analysis of baseball data — sabermetrics is the catchall term — that some believe has made scouts obsolete.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
By any objective measure, the Pan America is a capable, comfortable, raucous-sounding, brute-faced, mile-killer that attracts only the very finest heathens.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of objective

Adjective

Professors have encountered demonstrable issues with widespread cheating, with many forced to devise their own methods for eliminating unethical AI use.

— Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
America has witnessed a proliferation of voting rights groups with sound justification and demonstrable results, but there comes a point when there may be too much of a good thing.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026

Definition of demonstrable

Adjective

Its experimental Little Blue Menu concept served traditional Chick-fil-A menu items along with burgers, pizza and onion rings; the chain will convert its final location into a traditional Chick-fil-A next year.

— Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
The one-day event will screen 12 shorts from seven countries, with documentaries, dramas, comedies, animation and experimental pieces in the mix.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of experimental

Adjective

Binding it all together is the chain-of-custody record that includes every handoff between teams, vendors and systems, with verification signatures that make each component's provenance independently confirmable.

— Akash Pugalia, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Cekada is only the third person to be confirmed to lead the agency since the director's position was made confirmable in 2006.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 May 2026

Definition of confirmable

Adjective

Moving between comedy, crime, romance and existential drama, The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight takes inspiration from the energetic and experimental spirit of 1960s New Wave cinema.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Abiy, who has described this as an existential issue for his country, was not specific but neighboring Eritrea’s Red Sea port of Assab has long been seen by some in the government as a possible prize.

— Damian Zane, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of existential

Adjective

The output has to be supportable, reviewable and grounded in information that can actually survive scrutiny later.

— Arun Ramakrishnan, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Claims about artificial intelligence must be technically accurate, operationally supportable, and consistent with the company’s financial results.

— Perrie M. Weiner, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026

Definition of supportable

Browse Nearby Words

empiric

empirical

empiricist

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“Empirical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/empirical. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of empirical

adjective

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