as in conditional
determined by something else
our plans are only tentative at this point and will depend on whether you can come
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tentative
Michôd says that Sweeney was initially tentative about Martin's involvement, wanting to protect her own creative space, but opened up upon realizing that Martin wasn't going to try and control her performance.
—
Esther Zuckerman, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
Their relationship, tentative, intimate, and defiant, lingers long after the satirical skewering of male buffoonery has faded.
—Leila Latif, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Cracker Barrel’s position is more tentative, more precarious.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
The tentative reunion quickly snowballed into a full tour and, now, Sublime’s first new music in nearly 30 years.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tentative
Esther Zuckerman, Time, 6 Sep. 2025
Their relationship, tentative, intimate, and defiant, lingers long after the satirical skewering of male buffoonery has faded.
—Leila Latif, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Cracker Barrel’s position is more tentative, more precarious.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
The tentative reunion quickly snowballed into a full tour and, now, Sublime’s first new music in nearly 30 years.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tentative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tentative
Adjective
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The former match official was charged on August 12 following an investigation by Nottinghamshire Police and has been on conditional bail since.—
Ali Rampling,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
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The city granted conditional approval of early engineering plans for Trinity Estates Phase III back in 2022.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The goal isn't to create AI-dependent individuals but to use technology as a bridge to greater human engagement and self-determination.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Iberian harvester ants were then dependent on Messor structor ants for their survival, forcing the queens to track down males of another species, which is known as sperm parasitism.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tentative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tentative. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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