as in theoretical
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea
conceptual thinking is often the most demanding kind of mental activity
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Recent Examples of conceptual
The fair also includes work by conceptual artist John Knuth.
—
Wilkine Brutus, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
Tesla and Panasonic have sponsored a study for a commuter rail system and have also provided funding to the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, which is working with Boring Co on conceptual designs and a feasibility report for a tunnel.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 17 Jan. 2026
These conceptual models, though, aren’t a real-time physical understanding of the world because LLMs can’t update their training data in real time.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 17 Jan. 2026
Perhaps the most dangerous gap in training today is not clinical but conceptual.
—Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conceptual
Wilkine Brutus, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
Tesla and Panasonic have sponsored a study for a commuter rail system and have also provided funding to the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, which is working with Boring Co on conceptual designs and a feasibility report for a tunnel.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 17 Jan. 2026
These conceptual models, though, aren’t a real-time physical understanding of the world because LLMs can’t update their training data in real time.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 17 Jan. 2026
Perhaps the most dangerous gap in training today is not clinical but conceptual.
—Krutika Kuppalli, STAT, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for conceptual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conceptual
Adjective
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From a theoretical point of view, the advantages of free trade are as great as ever, but as a practical matter, since tech companies do not import or export many industrial goods or raw materials, free trade in goods matters much less to companies like Meta than to those like Walmart or GM.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
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These are features that many theoretical models do not expect to coexist.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Breaking down such a layered metaphysical concept with the relatively few words left in this review would be a fool’s errand, but suffice it to say that all of the math miraculously checks out.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
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The Jupe bros – Jacobi and big brother Noah (as the stage Hamlet), who are both going places – playing characters that reflect each other in a metaphysical way.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The frozen water also created a layer of ice on the floor, as well as an abstract-looking sculpture reaching up towards the ceiling.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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Hejduk said that while artists’ abstract designs should be inspired by nature, there’s a lot of leeway .—
Beth Lipoff,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conceptual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conceptual. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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