theoretical

adjective

ˌthē-ə-ˈre-ti-kəl How to pronounce theoretical (audio)
variants also theoretic
Definition of theoreticalnext
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of theoretical Michael Flynn was 28 and working towards earning his PHD in theoretical physics when the 30-foot-long dead tree limb fell over 27 feet onto him, fracturing his skull and changing his life forever. — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 For customers, the relevant comparison is not a robot’s theoretical hourly cost versus a worker’s wage. — Navin Chaddha, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 The Quaternary Interpretation of Quantum Dynamics (QIQD) provides the theoretical foundation for this view. — Pravir Malik, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The peak theoretical performance of the original Cray-1 was approximately 160 megaflops. — ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for theoretical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theoretical
  1. hypothetical
  2. metaphysical
  3. speculative
  4. conceptual
  5. conjectural
  6. abstract
  7. mental
Adjective
  • Amazon has a hypothetical $50 billion chip business and can offer a roadmap to immense profitability.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2026
  • And there is still a hypothetical risk, election experts say, that the President could do something new and outlandishly lawless on or close to Election Day.
    — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of hypothetical
Adjective
  • The latter perhaps most acutely reflected such dominant motifs in Gibson’s midcareer work as female figures, birds, and metaphysical reflectors.
    — The Editors of ARTnews, ARTnews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The best moments on records like Redemption, Blackheart, and Second Line use her knack for grand, metaphysical metaphors to charge her singing with epic stakes.
    — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of metaphysical
Adjective
  • Described as a speculative drama, the film moves between the traditional culture of the high Himalayas and a modern world shaped by technology.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Unlike the speculative internet startups that collapsed during the dot-com bust in 2000, many of today's leading technology companies have established businesses and genuine demand for their products.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of speculative
Adjective
  • Under the conceptual arrangement, the city would own the property and oversee street construction, while the district would participate financially and construct its own access drives connecting to the new street.
    — Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The Staten Island hip-hop titans conceived of the album as a conceptual artwork, a protest against the cheapening of music in the age of widespread piracy.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of conceptual
Adjective
  • The first two questions are too hypothetical and conjectural.
    — Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 20 May 2026
  • Projections of economic gains from major sporting events are typically optimistic, euphoric, chimerical or conjectural.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
Definition of conjectural
Adjective
  • Instead, applicants must complete a seven-step process that includes personality and abstract reasoning tests.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Only two abstract paintings from the artist have been sold at auction in more than three decades, according to Louise Wrede, the head of Bukowskis art department.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of abstract
Adjective
  • The mental toll that comes with Ebola Losing relatives to disease outbreaks is always difficult, but responders say grief can be especially severe with Ebola in a country where the disease is viewed by many as evil due to rumors and misconceptions.
    — Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Their alluring quality belies their extreme toxicity; at times used as a hallucinogen, their ingestion can cause severe mental confusion and even death.
    — Tatiane de Assis, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of mental

Browse Nearby Words

theorems
theoretical
theories
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Cite this Entry

“Theoretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theoretical. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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