as in hypothetical
existing only as an assumption or speculation
a speculative explanation of why this ancient pottery was found hundreds of miles from where it was made
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Recent Examples of speculative
Lit Hub Deb Olin Unferth explores the necessity of writing speculative fiction in this time and place.
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Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
On the subject of speculative energy, galleries spoke about how Tuesday’s consistent, solid sales rhythm seemed a lot healthier in that regard.
—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
16 June 2026
Simisolaoluwa Akande is a Nigerian British multiaward-winning artist filmmaker whose work spans fiction and speculative nonfiction.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
15 June 2026
Any financial instruments mentioned herein are speculative in nature and may involve risk to principal and interest.
—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Literary Hub,
18 June 2026
On the subject of speculative energy, galleries spoke about how Tuesday’s consistent, solid sales rhythm seemed a lot healthier in that regard.
—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
16 June 2026
Simisolaoluwa Akande is a Nigerian British multiaward-winning artist filmmaker whose work spans fiction and speculative nonfiction.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
15 June 2026
Any financial instruments mentioned herein are speculative in nature and may involve risk to principal and interest.
—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculative
Adjective
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When an audience member posed a hypothetical choice between a flawed but distinctive film and a polished but unremarkable one, Leung said either would do, arguing that cinema’s goal was sincerity, in performance or in a director’s expression, rather than polish.
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Ajmera later clarified the question was hypothetical and did not signal any planned leadership changes.
Adjective
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Before that, the idea of one day becoming king was something distant and theoretical, a concept discussed in books and family history rather than something with immediate relevance to his own life.
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This stopped being theoretical just this month.
Adjective
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The first two questions are too hypothetical and conjectural.
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Projections of economic gains from major sporting events are typically optimistic, euphoric, chimerical or conjectural.
Cite this Entry
“Speculative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculative. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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