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
Relevance
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
The filmmakers did their homework to make the hungry whale — the largest toothed predator, with the rare (and largely theoretical) power to kill by sound — look and sound as realistic as possible.
—
Matt Minton, Variety, 9 June 2026
The report cites this as an early stage of recursive self-improvement—the theoretical point at which an AI system becomes capable of autonomously designing its own successor.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 9 June 2026
That power isn’t just theoretical.
—John Kennedy, VIBE.com, 9 June 2026
That vision is not theoretical.
—Joel Rubin, New York Daily News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for theoretical
Matt Minton, Variety, 9 June 2026
The report cites this as an early stage of recursive self-improvement—the theoretical point at which an AI system becomes capable of autonomously designing its own successor.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 9 June 2026
That power isn’t just theoretical.
—John Kennedy, VIBE.com, 9 June 2026
That vision is not theoretical.
—Joel Rubin, New York Daily News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for theoretical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theoretical
Adjective
-
In a hypothetical matchup, Ossoff led Collins by 7 percentage points in a poll conducted in early April by Echelon Insights.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
-
Star City takes us to the other side of the Iron Curtain, exploring this hypothetical scenario from the Soviet side.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
Mystical, metaphysical, and frequently touched by whimsy, his boundary-breaking work reflected his abiding interest in Surrealists such as Joseph Cornell, Giorgio di Chirico, and René Magritte.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
12 June 2026
-
Some of the dialogue feels like Harrison’s own metaphysical musings rather than characters’ speech.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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For companies and capital allocators alike, treating fundamental science as a speculative luxury rather than a core strategic imperative is a critical misstep.—
Alexandra Vidyuk,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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More than $233 million worth of the perp changed hands over the past 24 hours, while open interest climbed above $263 million, indicating sustained speculative demand.—
Ashley Capoot,CJ Haddad,Samantha Subin,Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
The point of using different types of corn in the mashbill is to explore how less common varietals affect the flavor of the whiskey, which if taken to another conceptual level should influence how the wood will affect another spirit aged in the barrels.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
11 June 2026
-
Pre-submittal meetings are optional and go over conceptual or preliminary designs for commercial projects.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
The first two questions are too hypothetical and conjectural.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
20 May 2026
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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
Adjective
-
Everything about the place signals a level of unrestricted aesthetic devotion at which money seems almost an abstract annoyance.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
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The shifting colors of the river could inspire a series of abstract canvases.—
Sarah Kingdom,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
In a pre-Olympic event on the new track in Milan-Cortina, Meyers Taylor was experimenting, making mental navigational notes, also part of the long-range plan.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
15 June 2026
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While the ghost stories dominate popular culture, the site also provides a window into the evolving history of mental-health care and institutional medicine.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theoretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theoretical. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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