Observation is a passive science, experimentation an active science.
Source: tatoeba (20913)
Observation
/ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃn̩/
Synonyms for "observation" (256 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (52)
accordanceacquittalacquittanceaddressadherenceadvertenceadvertencyaffirmationalertnessallegationannouncementanswerapostropheapprehensionassertionassiduityassiduousnessassumptionattentionattention span
Show 26 more words
attentivenessattitudeavermentawarenessbuggingcarecarrying outcelebrationclimate of opinioncloak-and-dagger workcognizancecommentcommentarycommon beliefcommunity sentimentcomplianceconceitconcentrationconceptconceptionconclusionconformanceconformityconsciousnessconsensus gentiumconsideration
Noun(5 words)
Verb(1 words)
comment on
Strong matches (76)
conversationcounterespionagecounterintelligencecrackcriticismdeclarationdictumdiligencedischargediscoveryearearnestnesselectronic surveillanceespialespionageestimateestimationethosexaminationexclamation
Show 32 more words
Noun(15 words)
datadata itemdata pointdata pointsdatapointdatapointsdirect observationdiscoveriesenvironmental monitoringevidencefindinggreenhouse observationinspectionkey cluelab findings
Adjective(6 words)
discrete itemevidential sourceexperimental resultindividual unititalian datilive monitoring
Adverb(1 words)
experimentally observable event
Related words (128)
Noun(51 words)
measurementmeasurement and datamicroscope observationmonitoringmonitoring ecosystem recoveriesmore observationalno more datanotenote observationsnoticenotice the noisenoticesnoticingnotingobservanceobservation logof dataone-organismoutcomesoutsight
Show 31 more words
peepingperceptionpiece of datapinpointspipulportuguese observarproduce deterministic valuesquiet remarkrecordreflectionreflexionremarksremarquerepeat observationresearch findingresponsesamplingscientific datascientific measurementsensor readingsightingsightingssoil monitoringstatistical datumsurvivorsystematic observationteacher observationtrackingwatchful waitingwatchingxt
memory-tracemental imagemental impressionmentionmilitary intelligencemindmindfulnessmystiquenotenoticenotionobiter dictumobservanceopinionparthian shotperceptionperformancepersonal judgmentphrasepoint of view
Show 53 more words
popular beliefpositionposturepracticepresumptionprevailing beliefproclamationpronouncementpublic beliefpublic opinionquestionreactionreceptreflectionregardregardfulnessremarkrepresentationrespectsatisfactionsaysayingscanscrutinysecret policesecret servicesentencesentimentshadowingsightspyingstakeoutstancestatementsubjoindersuppositionsurveillancesurveytailingtheorythinkingthoughttrailingutteranceviewviewingwatchwatchingway of thinkingwiretapwiretappingwitnessingword
Adjective(3 words)
microscopic viewingobservational datumsingle instance
Determiner(1 words)
no wind
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: accordance, acquittal, acquittance, address, adherence.
- Sentence evidence is available for observation, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, 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 "observation".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "observation"
Keep "observation" 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 "observation" 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 "observation", 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 "observation" 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
19 entriesShowing 16 of 19 words.
More specific
10 entriesauditory observationfield notegraph pointinstrument readingmass measurementmicroscope observationtable entrytemperature readingtimed trialvisual observation
Collocations
6 entriescareful observationdirect observationobservation recordrepeat observationsscientific observationsystematic observation
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
5 entriesSample sentences
16 total sentences available.
Science is based on careful observation.
Source: tatoeba (24002)
Science rests upon observation.
Source: tatoeba (24008)
A good theory is characterized by the fact that it makes a number of predictions that could in principle be disproved or falsified by observation.
Source: tatoeba (30000)
Showing 4 of 16 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "observation"?
Closest matches include accordance, acquittal, acquittance, address, adherence.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "observation"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.