Grammar is an empirical science, not a theoretical one.
Source: tatoeba (1439896)
Empirical
/ɪmˈpɪɹɪkəl/
Synonyms for "empirical" (387 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (10)
Strong matches (15)
Adjective(9 words)
behavioral skillsbehavioral traitsbehaviouralclinical guidelineclinical guidelinesclinical modifierclinical scientistclinical toneconcrete reality
Noun(5 words)
biological knowledgechemical experimentationclinical conclusionscriminal justice systemcrustal displacement observed
Related words (25)
cut-and-trycyrenaic
Noun(20 words)
dadosdaricondata baseddata based claimdata based testdata conceptsdata driven analysisdata driven assessmentdata driven deductiondata driven labdata driven methoddata driven studydata from observationdata measuredata organizationsdata oriented studydata pattern trenddata patterneddata point methoddata values
Adjective(3 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: adjective of evidence, analytic adjective, analytical method, animist, animistic.
- Sentence evidence is available for empirical, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss, wiktionary, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "empirical".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "empirical"
Keep "empirical" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "empirical" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "empirical", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "empirical" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesMore specific
4 entriescontrolled trialexperimental resultfield testobservational data
Collocations
5 entriesempirical dataempirical evidenceempirical methodempirical researchempirical study
Inflections
2 entriesmore empiricalmost empirical
Derivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
11 entriesa posterioriconfirmabledata-basedexistentialexperientialexperimentalfalsifiableobservationalsemiempiricaltrial-and-errorverifiable
Sample sentences
14 total sentences available.
As of yet there has been no empirical research done on this subject.
Source: tatoeba (2403686)
The empirical data from this experiment seems in line with the theoretical hypotheses.
Source: tatoeba (2463488)
"All humans are mortal" is an empirical observation based on millennia of experience.
Source: tatoeba (2514704)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "empirical"?
Closest matches include adjective of evidence, analytic adjective, analytical method, animist, animistic.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "empirical"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.