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
Despite the results, researchers emphasized that the study was observational and cannot prove cause and effect.
—
Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Another is that the data is observational.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 25 Mar. 2026
The documentaries tended to be distanced, austere, observational; those that focused on the past (such as 2005’s Blockade, about the WWII siege of Leningrad, or 2019’s State Funeral, about the funeral of Stalin) were often built entirely from archival footage.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
His performances blended observational humor with stories drawn from life at sea.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
One thing that could aid in its acceptance is obtaining observational evidence of the existence of primordial black holes, which since they were first proposed by Stephen Hawking in the 1970s, have remained frustratingly hypothetical.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026
The observational study could not establish direct cause and effect, with the authors noting that more research is needed to address existing disparities.
—Dr. Anna Jinnah, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
My enrolling in so many observational research studies to find a cure for a fatal, neurodegenerative disease is a tremendous declaration of hope.
—Mindy Uhrlaub, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
With these shots the film establishes its poetic observational mode.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Another is that the data is observational.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 25 Mar. 2026
The documentaries tended to be distanced, austere, observational; those that focused on the past (such as 2005’s Blockade, about the WWII siege of Leningrad, or 2019’s State Funeral, about the funeral of Stalin) were often built entirely from archival footage.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
His performances blended observational humor with stories drawn from life at sea.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
One thing that could aid in its acceptance is obtaining observational evidence of the existence of primordial black holes, which since they were first proposed by Stephen Hawking in the 1970s, have remained frustratingly hypothetical.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026
The observational study could not establish direct cause and effect, with the authors noting that more research is needed to address existing disparities.
—Dr. Anna Jinnah, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
My enrolling in so many observational research studies to find a cure for a fatal, neurodegenerative disease is a tremendous declaration of hope.
—Mindy Uhrlaub, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
With these shots the film establishes its poetic observational mode.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observational
Adjective
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That's a bold claim, and one that needs a lot more empirical detail than the company laid out in its press release.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
28 Mar. 2026
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For years, Republican lawmakers and education leaders have argued that sociology — especially high-enrollment introductory courses — has been overtaken by progressive ideology and strayed from empirical scholarship.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This was the fallacy that led to the rise of elegant, beautiful, and compelling scenarios — grand unification, supersymmetry, extra dimensions, and string theory — whose predictions simply don’t appear to match experimental reality in any measurable way.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
1 Apr. 2026
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This year’s Persistence of Vision Award celebrates experimental filmmaker and poet Lynne Sachs.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Episode 3 is a little more objective.—
William Earl,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2026
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This might be particularly impactful coming from a computer, which users subconsciously view as more objective than a human.—
Allison Parshall,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Observational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observational. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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