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
What was once speculative technology is now steadily reshaping patient care.
—
Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
The state’s attorneys said that any injury or harm was speculative and that the immigrants already were subject to federal immigration enforcement, according to Heeren.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 30 Apr. 2025
The story is grounded in current urban tensions: skyrocketing rents, speculative real estate and cultural erasure.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
Fashion becomes a kind of speculative archive—a visual lexicon of memory, cultural inheritance, and individuality.
—Najha Zigbi-Johnson, Essence, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
The state’s attorneys said that any injury or harm was speculative and that the immigrants already were subject to federal immigration enforcement, according to Heeren.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 30 Apr. 2025
The story is grounded in current urban tensions: skyrocketing rents, speculative real estate and cultural erasure.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
Fashion becomes a kind of speculative archive—a visual lexicon of memory, cultural inheritance, and individuality.
—Najha Zigbi-Johnson, Essence, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculative
Adjective
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Despite challenges like legacy data integration and security, digital twins promise significant operational advantages by making hypothetical scenarios feel immediate and actionable.—
Murugan Lakshmanan,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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The vice president also pitched a hypothetical scenario in which the U.S. went to war with a foreign adversary and whether parents would like the peace of mind that the weapons used by U.S. soldiers are made within the U.S. rather than another country.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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But to sacrifice Negan to The Dama in theoretical perpetuity?—
Charlie Mason,
TVLine,
5 May 2025
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And none of us could have imagined that our theoretical models would fit the data so well.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Speculative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculative. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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