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
His tax reform of 1978, a major priority, was dead on arrival even among notional allies.
—
Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2025
At that time, the anger within the family pushed the idea of a pardon from the notional to the plausible, according to several people familiar with the president’s thinking.
—Katie Rogers, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2024
Mauritius may have gambled with its national dowry, but its consideration for a destitute citizenry wasn’t merely notional.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
As options trading expands, the notional value tied to bitcoin could increase substantially, without requiring physical bitcoin to be bought or sold.
—Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for notional
Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2025
At that time, the anger within the family pushed the idea of a pardon from the notional to the plausible, according to several people familiar with the president’s thinking.
—Katie Rogers, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2024
Mauritius may have gambled with its national dowry, but its consideration for a destitute citizenry wasn’t merely notional.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
As options trading expands, the notional value tied to bitcoin could increase substantially, without requiring physical bitcoin to be bought or sold.
—Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for notional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for notional
Adjective
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Indeed, the risk of diversion from Plaintiff's sales is more than theoretical—the government can prove that Plaintiff actually sold LSD to a minor as well as an undercover officer.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
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Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, for example, can yet orchestrate a theoretical swing of close to £12million ($16m), a significant sum for those requiring summer rebuilds on finite resources.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This means flopping through different symbolic rooms of an imaginary house — a schtick that Danielle Deadwyler also had to do for the same reason in The Woman in the Yard, a movie that might still be playing when Thunderbolts* hits the cineplex.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
29 Apr. 2025
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The deeper themes about race and history and culture, as well as the sheer terror and excitement, all feed audiences craving to confront our demons and fears, but in a safe imaginary setting – all the more important when those fears increasingly stalk the daytime for so many people.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The song borders on the absurd, but its faith in the metaphysical properties of a melody is infectious.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2025
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But now, almost five years after the pandemic, what exactly is driving this metaphysical renaissance?—
Michaela Trimble,
Vogue,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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It’s been a full decade since Poot Lovato had her last taste of freedom — and according to Demi Lovato, the hilarious, fictitious alter ego is staying locked up for many decades more.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
22 Apr. 2025
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Officers of the court have a duty of candor to the court and an obligation not to file fictitious lawsuits that have no basis in fact or law.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Go behind the scenes of our most abstract assignment of the year.—
Kendra Vaculin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Gomes’s sculptures have a biomorphic feel to them, even while being fully abstract.—
Grace Edquist,
Vogue,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The series titles alludes to mythical and powerful ancient artifacts from the game universe.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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The First Shadow is a stand-alone prequel to the series, and its creators say the play is, in fact, canon to its mythical universe, and could be referenced in the upcoming Season Five of the series.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In this sense, generative A.I. might count as a conceptual win for my field.—
D. Graham Burnett,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2025
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That Cold War playbook—containment, deterrence, ideological messaging, and eventual collapse—became America's conceptual toolkit for managing future rivals.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The star and executive producer briefly revived the series in the fictional town of Lanford, Illinois, two decades later in March 2018.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
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Known to millions as Mr. Johnson, the delightfully offbeat and endlessly wise custodian of Philadelphia’s most charming fictional school, Davis has turned what began as a recurring spot into an award-winning, fan-favorite presence.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Notional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notional. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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