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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of theoretical
Numerical simulations and a theoretical quantum model validated the experimental results, confirming that the two phonon modes were indeed in the ultrastrong coupling regime.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2025
In a country where disabled people are overrepresented in jails and prisons, psychiatric institutions and police encounters, this isn’t just theoretical.
—Kate Caldwell, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
That does not change the fact that DJI’s technology has both substantial theoretical and actual military application.
—PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025
For now, there are no plans to extend the show with a new season for Netflix should the licensed run of the existing seasons do well but that is a theoretical possibility.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for theoretical
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2025
In a country where disabled people are overrepresented in jails and prisons, psychiatric institutions and police encounters, this isn’t just theoretical.
—Kate Caldwell, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
That does not change the fact that DJI’s technology has both substantial theoretical and actual military application.
—PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025
For now, there are no plans to extend the show with a new season for Netflix should the licensed run of the existing seasons do well but that is a theoretical possibility.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for theoretical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theoretical
Adjective
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Advertisement Think about it through the lens of a hypothetical industrial company.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
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The experiment relies on detecting the faint interactions between hypothetical dark matter particles and atoms of liquid xenon, a noble gas chosen for its purity and stability.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Best Gifts for Pisces Dreamy Pisces are creative and spiritual, so a journal, art set, or metaphysical kit with all of the essentials for a seance is a great gift idea.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
30 Sep. 2025
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The fantastic is used to sketch out familiar story lines, but the metaphysical premise remains as vague as the dramatic stakes in the lives of the characters.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Nevertheless, the team, led by senior analyst Vivek Arya, argued that the deal is structured by performance and competitive need, rather than pure speculative frenzy.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
7 Oct. 2025
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While Black Ops 6 toyed with a more grounded, back-to-the-basics approach of UAVs, airstrikes, and attack choppers as scorestreak rewards for tallying enough points or kills, the speculative fiction framework of BLOPS 7 means everything requires a heightened tone.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Emphasizing the project’s conceptual basis, one particularly ephemeral edition, The Biggest Nemyrivskiy Art Center, 2013, was a roughly nineteen-thousand-square-foot rectangle outlined on a snowy field by a plow, disappearing as soon as the snow began to melt.—
Joanna Warsza,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
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And the late conceptual artist, Chris Burden, and still-active light and space artist James Turrell have ties to the school as students and instructors.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
30 Sep. 2025
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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Earlier tests measured relatively abstract capabilities on reasoning puzzles and exam-style questions.—
Nikita Ostrovsky,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
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This space by Bunsa Studio features a bold, abstract Svensk-Tenn pattern with a deep brown ground and vibrant pattern that easily hides spills and stains.—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Theoretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theoretical. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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