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
New York can and should keep adding more housing, but any theoretical ratcheting down of prices, provided the city remains safe and continues to offer parents good schooling options for their kids, would unleash new demand.
—
Nicole Gelinas, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
Helping disabled people regain autonomy, building a device for consumers to play video games, or mitigating the singularity, a theoretical future in which artificial intelligence has surpassed human intelligence?
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 Jan. 2026
Perhaps China’s aggressive state spending, open-source AI coding, and interest in ordinary use cases for the technology will ultimately give the country an edge over American firms that are expensively chasing revolutionary applications for a more theoretical product.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
And that one isn’t theoretical.
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theoretical
Nicole Gelinas, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
Helping disabled people regain autonomy, building a device for consumers to play video games, or mitigating the singularity, a theoretical future in which artificial intelligence has surpassed human intelligence?
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 5 Jan. 2026
Perhaps China’s aggressive state spending, open-source AI coding, and interest in ordinary use cases for the technology will ultimately give the country an edge over American firms that are expensively chasing revolutionary applications for a more theoretical product.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
And that one isn’t theoretical.
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 3 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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The real story is Latour’s encounter with the territory—transfigured, by Cather’s prose, into a metaphysical battleground and a sphinxlike witness.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
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Sirāt‘s central themes are deeply rooted in both metaphysical allegory and contemporary societal critique.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Forecasting revenues over a 99-year period stretches credibility, as economic models typically lose reliability within five years, making century-long projections speculative at best.—
Michelle Grau,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
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Government lawyers urged the court to dismiss the case, arguing no specific plaintiff has faced deportation or visa revocation and that any harm is speculative.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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His most recent works, the Polar EP and the conceptual diptych Helios Rave Draft and Superfluid, continue his exploration of sound design as emotional and physical experience.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
12 Jan. 2026
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That is a conceptual challenge, or shortcoming, that can only be overcome with both some background knowledge on the works and a bit of meandering around the Golden Triangle neighborhood.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
12 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
-
Reconcept uses music paired with specific frequencies tailored to different physical and mental needs.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
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Rusty recognized the severity of the situation and admitted her to a mental hospital.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theoretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theoretical. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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