as in theoretic
existing only as an assumption or speculation
a speculative explanation of why this ancient pottery was found hundreds of miles from where it was made
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Recent Examples of speculative
The holders of these bonds are therefore making a highly speculative bet.
—
Mark Weisbrot, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Futures, stocks, and crypto trading are speculative and may not be suitable for every investor.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
But some providers may remain confused or hesitant to administer the shots because of lingering uncertainty and mixed messages, for instance, speculative safety risks presented during the CDC's advisory committee meeting that are not backed by solid evidence.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 6 Oct. 2025
By devoting disproportionate attention to speculative harms, scholars leave a vacuum on the issues that lawmakers urgently need guidance on: workforce transitions, liability in high-risk contexts, and the uneven distribution of benefits across communities.
—Kevin Frazier, Twin Cities, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Mark Weisbrot, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Futures, stocks, and crypto trading are speculative and may not be suitable for every investor.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
But some providers may remain confused or hesitant to administer the shots because of lingering uncertainty and mixed messages, for instance, speculative safety risks presented during the CDC's advisory committee meeting that are not backed by solid evidence.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 6 Oct. 2025
By devoting disproportionate attention to speculative harms, scholars leave a vacuum on the issues that lawmakers urgently need guidance on: workforce transitions, liability in high-risk contexts, and the uneven distribution of benefits across communities.
—Kevin Frazier, Twin Cities, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculative
Adjective
-
Let’s take a hypothetical scenario in which someone’s home is valued at $400,000, but burns down exactly halfway through the year.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Oct. 2025
-
California Governor Gavin Newsom has gained ground on Vice President JD Vance in a new hypothetical poll of the 2028 presidential race.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Proof in the Numbers The cost savings claims are not theoretical.—
Jon Stojan,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
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But at the moment, so many of these benefits are theoretical.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Speculative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculative. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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