experimental

adjective

ik-ˌsper-ə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce experimental (audio)
Definition of experimentalnext
1
as in developmental
made or done as an experiment an experimental procedure for patients suffering from leukemia

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in empirical
based on observation or experience asserted that experimental knowledge is vastly superior to idle speculation and theorizing

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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 experimental The early search web was an experimental stage where the rules had not hardened, and the feedback loop between publishers and engines was still manageable and easier to test and interpret. — Alan Bradley, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026 While Tropicoqueta saw Karol experimenting with a swath of Latin genres, the Colombian superstar has opened herself up to indie rock and experimental pop on No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto. — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026 Driven by social media hype and a growing distrust of public health guidance, consumer demand for experimental peptides has exploded over the last decade. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 The actor came to the role from an unusually rigorous theater background, having spent 15 years touring internationally with Peter Brook’s experimental theater company, performing everywhere from Lincoln Center to remote villages in Africa. — Jp Mangalindan, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for experimental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for experimental
  1. developmental
  2. empirical
  3. investigative
  4. observational
  5. preliminary
  6. objective
  7. pilot
Adjective
  • While these programs are a step in the right direction to improving e-scooter safety, Chicago should also consider policies designed around the developmental needs and behaviors of youth.
    — Narmeen Khan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • This year’s main beneficiary is OCA (Opportunity, Community, Ability), an organization that empowers individuals with autism and other developmental differences.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of developmental
Adjective
  • Sustained high performance by firms that treat customer value as primary remains the strongest empirical rebuttal.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • So far, though, the empirical pattern in fields like software, law, medicine, and content translation is that demand for human work shifts and grows as AI spreads.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 July 2026
Definition of empirical
Adjective
  • Randall, now 48, was allowed to visit her son despite having prior convictions for manslaughter, assault and cruelty to a child, and having a warrant for her arrest issued by San Bernardino County authorities, according to an investigative report.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Mills is also facing scrutiny from the House Ethics Committee, which has investigated him since August 2024 and established an investigative subcommittee in November 2025.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of investigative
Adjective
  • Total solar eclipses have driven major scientific breakthroughs for more than a century, most famously providing one of the first observational tests of Einstein’s general theory of relativity in 1919.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Because this was an observational study, women who used estrogen may have differed from nonusers in unmeasured ways, including baseline health or frequency of doctor visits.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of observational
Adjective
  • Iriarte-Valdez waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing.
    — Maddie White, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The grand jury indictment is a major step toward trial and allows prosecutors to skip California’s preliminary hearing process, where evidence is publicly aired.
    — Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of preliminary
Adjective
  • Several conditions produce dynamic disability, and each has objective diagnostic criteria.
    — Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • When the work environment shifts in ways that make objective judgment harder to offer, that intertwining starts to come apart.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of objective
Adjective
  • Pilot Américo Salazar and co-pilot Irenka Guanilo del Carpio were also killed, the ministry said in a report on the crash.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The technology is designed to act as a co-pilot, augmenting rather than replacing the training, professionalism and instinct of experienced emergency personnel.
    — Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Definition of pilot

Browse Nearby Words

experiment
experimental
experimentation
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Cite this Entry

“Experimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/experimental. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of experimental for Spanish Speakers

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