as in theoretical
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea
conceptual thinking is often the most demanding kind of mental activity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 conceptual
Many Evanstonians favor increasing the housing supply in theory, but opposition quickly surfaces when developers attempt to turn the conceptual into reality.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025
Train them to think in terms of frameworks, repeatable models, and conceptual tools.
—Rhea Wessel, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The Butthole Surfers—their name, high jinks, and toilet paper stagecraft aside—were a rigorous, conceptual band.
—Pat Blashill, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
Slaying the Antihydra and its brethren will require conceptual breakthroughs in pure mathematics.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conceptual
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025
Train them to think in terms of frameworks, repeatable models, and conceptual tools.
—Rhea Wessel, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The Butthole Surfers—their name, high jinks, and toilet paper stagecraft aside—were a rigorous, conceptual band.
—Pat Blashill, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
Slaying the Antihydra and its brethren will require conceptual breakthroughs in pure mathematics.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conceptual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conceptual
Adjective
-
And many additional ideas in theoretical physics seek to add in additional symmetries, additional dimensions, additional extra particles, or additional unification frameworks.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
9 Sep. 2025
-
If not, these elements of Musk’s project are likely to remain more theoretical, just as the dreams of last century’s techno-utopians did.—
Sonja Fritzsche,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Gleason, famously fascinated with UFOs and metaphysical theory, dreamed up the circular home that embodied futuristic ambition while showcasing old-fashioned craftsmanship.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Dao and qi are two metaphysical categories that persisted throughout the history of Chinese thought, with various interpretations of their unification and separation.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Not abstract, delayed or generalized data, but precise, real-time and location-specific insights delivered from the world’s most remote forests, deepest watersheds and most polluted urban corridors.—
Michael De Nil,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
As anyone who’s ever had a two-year-old could tell you, kids that age don’t quite see things in such abstract terms.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Conceptual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conceptual. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share