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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of speculative
How will someone react if their portfolio temporarily underperforms while a neighbor’s speculative investments soar?
—
Nathaniel Tilton, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
In-hand images of the new Nike Air Max2 CB 94 Low styles aren’t yet available, but Sneaker Market Romania provided speculative mock-ups of what the new pairs are expected to look like based on Supreme’s March SB collaborations, which is similar to the build of 2017’s Air Max2 CB 94 Lows.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
With a speculative valuation target of something like $1.75 trillion, that’s a multiple of 93 times sales.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 23 May 2026
Embark on a journey through six possible future worlds and engage with films, audio stories and soundscapes, installations and projections, costumes and tapestries, movie miniatures and speculative artefacts.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Nathaniel Tilton, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
In-hand images of the new Nike Air Max2 CB 94 Low styles aren’t yet available, but Sneaker Market Romania provided speculative mock-ups of what the new pairs are expected to look like based on Supreme’s March SB collaborations, which is similar to the build of 2017’s Air Max2 CB 94 Lows.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
With a speculative valuation target of something like $1.75 trillion, that’s a multiple of 93 times sales.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 23 May 2026
Embark on a journey through six possible future worlds and engage with films, audio stories and soundscapes, installations and projections, costumes and tapestries, movie miniatures and speculative artefacts.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculative
Adjective
-
In a hypothetical invasion, the two countries could pincer the border and sever the only land route into the Baltic states from the rest of NATO.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2026
-
And according to Sengupta and his colleagues, missions like Solar Cruiser or Betts' hypothetical space-weather station are technologically feasible today.—
Kiona N. Smith,
Space.com,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
So the question is no longer theoretical.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
Their measurements closely matched theoretical predictions and simulations, validating the core physics behind the approach.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
Projections of economic gains from major sporting events are typically optimistic, euphoric, chimerical or conjectural.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
-
That statistic is somewhat conjectural, since the vast majority of rapes in India are apparently not reported.—
Mark Jenkins,
Washington Post,
7 Nov. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Speculative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculative. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
