variants
also theoretic
1
as in hypothetical
existing only as an assumption or speculation
the merits of the new testing procedures are purely theoretical, since no one has ever used them before
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in metaphysical
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea
the theoretical musings in his new book are less engaging than the anecdote-driven arguments of his previous works
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of theoretical
Quantum computing, once theoretical, is now being harnessed to tackle previously unsolvable problems in fluid dynamics, design of new molecules and materials, and energy optimization.
—
CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Rwanda has already licensed SMR sites, hosted a continent-wide nuclear summit, and begun building regulatory capacity—signals that its interest is no longer theoretical.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
One of them is by drawing up military models to repel a theoretical invasion from the US — the first time in a century that Canadian Armed Forces have done so.
—Joe Wilkins Published Jan 21, Futurism, 21 Jan. 2026
These risks are no longer theoretical.
—Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theoretical
CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Rwanda has already licensed SMR sites, hosted a continent-wide nuclear summit, and begun building regulatory capacity—signals that its interest is no longer theoretical.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
One of them is by drawing up military models to repel a theoretical invasion from the US — the first time in a century that Canadian Armed Forces have done so.
—Joe Wilkins Published Jan 21, Futurism, 21 Jan. 2026
These risks are no longer theoretical.
—Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theoretical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theoretical
Adjective
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Justices posed various hypothetical questions throughout and, at times, got into tense lines of questioning while trying to understand the attorneys’ arguments and what previous cases reflect about this one.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
13 Jan. 2026
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Hartnett suggested the hypothetical wasn’t necessarily what her side was arguing.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Breaking down such a layered metaphysical concept with the relatively few words left in this review would be a fool’s errand, but suffice it to say that all of the math miraculously checks out.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
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The Jupe bros – Jacobi and big brother Noah (as the stage Hamlet), who are both going places – playing characters that reflect each other in a metaphysical way.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The roughly 920,000-square-foot space was built in 2023, with Port KC help, as a speculative warehouse.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
24 Jan. 2026
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This is not a fundamental reassessment but a speculative rush preceding a highly dilutive financing occurrence.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The conceptual genius has found a way to turn Los Angeles into a movie character too!—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
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Dedar Milano’s Abstract Newness Dedar Milano’s 2026 collection of fabrics embraced pure abstraction and fresh conceptual ideas.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Projections of economic gains from major sporting events are typically optimistic, euphoric, chimerical or conjectural.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
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That statistic is somewhat conjectural, since the vast majority of rapes in India are apparently not reported.—
Mark Jenkins,
Washington Post,
7 Nov. 2023
Adjective
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The frozen water also created a layer of ice on the floor, as well as an abstract-looking sculpture reaching up towards the ceiling.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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Hejduk said that while artists’ abstract designs should be inspired by nature, there’s a lot of leeway .—
Beth Lipoff,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Does the client have a specific mental disorder?—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The feeling was unfamiliar, since my usual mental coordinates place me somewhere in the proximate future, a locus of anticipation and, all too often, unfocused worry.—
Michael Pollan,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theoretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theoretical. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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