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
Those plans remain notional, but France and Britain want to have detailed options for European participation, while also insisting that the United States provide key elements like air cover, without troops on the ground.
—
Steven Erlanger, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
This date is also supported by a notice to mariners, but it should be taken as notional rather than something to be confident in.
—ArsTechnica, 9 May 2025
As reported by Rolling Stone, early buyers raked in $6.6 billion in profits, while many other traders collectively lost $2 billion in actual or notional losses, as per Chainalysis data findings.
—Tonya M. Evans, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
These professional traders have net sold global equities for six weeks in a row, with last week’s notional de-grossing amount reaching the largest level since July, according to data from Goldman Sachs’ prime brokerage unit.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for notional
Steven Erlanger, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
This date is also supported by a notice to mariners, but it should be taken as notional rather than something to be confident in.
—ArsTechnica, 9 May 2025
As reported by Rolling Stone, early buyers raked in $6.6 billion in profits, while many other traders collectively lost $2 billion in actual or notional losses, as per Chainalysis data findings.
—Tonya M. Evans, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
These professional traders have net sold global equities for six weeks in a row, with last week’s notional de-grossing amount reaching the largest level since July, according to data from Goldman Sachs’ prime brokerage unit.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for notional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for notional
Adjective
-
From my perspective, these shifts aren’t theoretical.—
Jack Thorogood,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Carter, who had a doctorate in theoretical physics, dispatched a team of officers to the Bay Area to set up an outpost—officially called the Defense Innovation Unit, but known at the Pentagon as Unit X.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
The soundtrack shifts toward lighter indie rock and away from brain-numbing redundancies, while the story treats those imaginary genre sketches like an accidental off-ramp left in the rearview.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
10 July 2025
-
The Royal Observatory Greenwich is home to Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian, an imaginary line of longitude, designated as 0 degrees that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
The sense of evil has nothing cosmic or metaphysical about it; there’s no grandeur and no wonder to Gunn’s universe and, although there’s much discussion of the defining quality of one’s actions and choices, the film’s superheroes seem thin, constrained, and undefined.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
10 July 2025
-
Vendors will offer beads, minerals, gemstones, custom jewelry, fossils, artifacts, and metaphysical stones.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Senegal just ditched its plans for the singer’s multibillion-dollar smart city in the country, reminiscent of Marvel’s fictitious nation in its Black Panther franchise.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
10 July 2025
-
The Terrifier film franchise stars Art the Clown as a demonic killer who stalks his victims in the fictitious Miles County in Staten Island, New York.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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While business leaders understand that activating AI is a significant effort, their understanding tends to be abstract.—
Patrick Moorhead,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Editor’s tip: Browse the property’s private art collection, including abstract works by Jordi Boldó and black-and-white images by the contemporary photographer Graciela Iturbide.—
Michaela Trimble,
Vogue,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
Its mythical story left an indelible mark on my mind.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Opened in 2020, the museum features interactive exhibits dedicated to the mythical sea creature.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
13 July 2025
Adjective
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The organization will be using the conceptual designs as opportunities to share with developers, financers, and others who may be interested in contributing.—
Sofia Joseph,
jsonline.com,
18 July 2025
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Documents submitted by Gomez Construction to the city say its efforts will be based on the conceptual design unanimously recommended in February by the city’s Pulse Memorial Advisory Committee, which is made up of Pulse survivors, victims’ families and community members.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
The story centers around a die-hard musical theater fan who plays his favorite (fictional) 1920s musical on his record player, bringing the show to life within his apartment.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
14 July 2025
-
The employees of Dunder Mifflin Paper Co.'s Scranton, Pennsylvania, office were filmed for nine seasons by a fictional documentary crew, a plot point that became extremely important in the series' final season.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Notional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notional. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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