as in theoretic
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
There’s much debate about what’s driving the gains, but there are signs of a deeper change afoot in what’s long been considered a more speculative market.
—
Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
Abrego Garcia denies the claim, and his attorneys argue that the evidence is speculative and uncorroborated.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
The Heat perhaps could have acquired more if he had been traded before the 2024 trade deadline, but that’s speculative.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
Still, the message for investors is clear: AI is no longer a speculative theme.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025
Abrego Garcia denies the claim, and his attorneys argue that the evidence is speculative and uncorroborated.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
The Heat perhaps could have acquired more if he had been traded before the 2024 trade deadline, but that’s speculative.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
Still, the message for investors is clear: AI is no longer a speculative theme.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculative
Adjective
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Based on the state’s 2019 study, the county would likely have valued this hypothetical home around 92% of its market value.—
Madeline King,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
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And that fear isn’t hypothetical.—
David Rodriguez Muñoz,
Freep.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This novel scenario, of flash ionization in the early Universe, may turn out to be, like most new theoretical ideas, a red herring that only takes us to a possible world that never was.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
2 Sep. 2025
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The key is making the financial management real rather than theoretical.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Speculative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculative. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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