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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Recent Examples of tentative
The entire defence looks more tentative, less self-assured than a year ago.
—
Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Editor Agnès Bruckert’s patient cutting allows the film’s fairly audacious tonal shifts (from tentative rom-com to psychological excavation) to unfold with poise, reinforcing the sense that catastrophe and self-redefinition can coexist within the same breath.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Hazy, the matriarch of the group, gave Reggie a tentative lick and promptly fell asleep.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
Cutropia said the nurses have reached tentative agreements over workplace safety with the hospital, but other provisions to attract young nurses and keep experienced ones on staff longer still need to be worked out.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tentative
Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Editor Agnès Bruckert’s patient cutting allows the film’s fairly audacious tonal shifts (from tentative rom-com to psychological excavation) to unfold with poise, reinforcing the sense that catastrophe and self-redefinition can coexist within the same breath.
—Catherine Bray, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Hazy, the matriarch of the group, gave Reggie a tentative lick and promptly fell asleep.
—Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
Cutropia said the nurses have reached tentative agreements over workplace safety with the hospital, but other provisions to attract young nurses and keep experienced ones on staff longer still need to be worked out.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tentative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tentative
Adjective
-
The Tennessee Titans received a conditional draft pick in exchange for Jones, who praised the Tennessee rookie quarterback.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The Baltimore Ravens just pulled off a sneaky-good trade, as the team has acquired defensive end Dre'Mont Jones from the Tennessee Titans for a conditional fifth-round pick.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
So much of the success the Leafs will have this season — for better or worse — is dependent on that shot.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
And this model of access, dependent on negotiation and renegotiation and repeated discussions about individual items, is neither sustainable nor capable of delivering aid at the scale that is needed.—
Anna Halford,
Time,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tentative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tentative. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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