1
as in theoretical
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea
she has a notional understanding of romantic love but no actual experience of being in love
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imaginary
not real and existing only in the imagination
your computer's "visits" to various parts of cyberspace are entirely notional—you stay put and the Web pages come to you
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of notional
These challenges all place a premium on quiet peacetime coordination between Washington and Taipei to build alignment on notional military plans and war aims, procedures for escalation management and signaling to Beijing, and conditions for terminating a war.
—
Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
According to The Times, payment of the notional rent would only be enforced if Andrew failed to maintain the property's refurbishment.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
But Tianwen 3 needs to land even lower down, with the criteria being at least 9,840 feet (3,000 m) below notional sea level, according to a paper published in the journal Nature by scientists involved in the mission.
—Andrew Jones, Space.com, 1 Oct. 2025
The United States 3rd Marine Division executes a notional fire mission with the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System during a training exercise at Camp Hansen on Japan's Okinawa Island on July 28, 2025.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for notional
Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
According to The Times, payment of the notional rent would only be enforced if Andrew failed to maintain the property's refurbishment.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
But Tianwen 3 needs to land even lower down, with the criteria being at least 9,840 feet (3,000 m) below notional sea level, according to a paper published in the journal Nature by scientists involved in the mission.
—Andrew Jones, Space.com, 1 Oct. 2025
The United States 3rd Marine Division executes a notional fire mission with the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System during a training exercise at Camp Hansen on Japan's Okinawa Island on July 28, 2025.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for notional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for notional
Adjective
-
For Jewish leaders, the threat is no longer theoretical.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Where previous editions treated AI with theoretical enthusiasm, this year’s market found practitioners speaking in more practical, and sometimes cautious, terms.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Bensley infuses his design with imaginary stories—in this case about adventurers, their steamer trunks emblazoned with fictitious initials.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Mom screams at Jane for being too old to have imaginary friends.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The movie addresses metaphysical questions such as the egregore of a generation, the nature of evil, and the search for God in times of His absence.—
PhotoVogue,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The most fundamental consequences of being struck by lightning are often metaphysical, and not easily communicable.—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As fictitious as living forever.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Bensley infuses his design with imaginary stories—in this case about adventurers, their steamer trunks emblazoned with fictitious initials.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For Michael Baer, a 59-year-old from Scottsdale, Arizona, the idea of being politically caught in the middle did not feel abstract.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
-
One, affordability is not just an abstract issue but a life-or-death situation for New Yorkers around the state, who should not be expected to pick between heating or cooling their homes in extreme weather and the ability to put food on the table.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
His wife, played by Sedgwick, is his long-time star; Sosie and Travis play the fictional filmmaker’s kids, both of whom are working on his latest shoot in rural Texas.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
20 Mar. 2026
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The fictional ’90s sitcom star played by Lisa Kudrow has been around for three major shifts in the television industry.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Red Rock presented a revised conceptual site plan to Rowan County Department of Planning & Development.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
-
An early conceptual plan the team submitted to the city shows how its designers plan to connect local streets through the site.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Set on a remote Scottish island, the film follows siblings Isla (Rankin) and Sandy (O’Rourke), who spend their days hunting birds, conversing with mythical beings, and fiercely fending off outsiders.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
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In contrast to other examples of Greek temple art and even other parts of the Parthenon, where mythic gods and heroes predominate, the frieze shows everyday mortals, perhaps even the contemporaries of those who carved it and viewed it.—
James Romm,
The New York Review of Books,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Notional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notional. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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