theoretical

theoretical

adjective

Definition of THEORETICAL

1

existing only as an assumption or speculation <the merits of the new testing procedures are purely theoretical, since no one has ever used them before>

Synonyms academic (also academical), conjectural, hypothetical, speculative, suppositional

Related Words alleged, assumed, presumed, presupposed, proposed, supposed, unproved, unproven, untested; debatable, moot; abstract, conceptual, intellectual, metaphysical; nonclinical, nonpractical; nonempirical

Near Antonyms clinical, practical; concrete, defined, definite, distinct; attested, authenticated, confirmed, demonstrated, established, proven, substantiated, tested, time-tested, validated, verified; empirical (also empiric), nonspeculative, nontheoretical, observational

Antonyms actual, factual, real

2

dealing with or expressing a quality or idea <the theoretical musings in his new book are less engaging than the anecdote-driven arguments of his previous works>

Synonyms conceptual, ideal, ideational, metaphysical, notional, theoretical (also theoretic)

Related Words conjectural, hypothetical, speculative; cosmic (also cosmical), intellectual, mental, spiritual; ethereal, immaterial, incorporeal, insubstantial, nonmaterial, nonphysical, unsubstantial; impalpable, imperceptible, insensible, intangible, invisible; impractical, romantic, transcendent, transcendental, unreal, utopian, visionary

Near Antonyms material, physical; appreciable, detectable, discernible (also discernable), noticeable, observable, palpable, perceptible, sensible, substantial, tangible, visible; defined, definite, distinct; actual, factual, real

Antonyms concrete, nonabstract

Variants of THEORETICAL

theoretical also theoretic