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 Families We Lose contains a less theoretical version of the problem. — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026 On Tuesday afternoon OpenAI dropped more than 700 manuscripts reporting proofs, solutions and progress on 372 open problems across theoretical research. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026 That’s just a theoretical example, but that’s the type of thing that can happen. — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026 The effects of these publications were hardly only theoretical, as Italian anarchists exerted a powerful influence on labor strikes. — Ed Simon, JSTOR Daily, 7 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
  • This specific scenario is still hypothetical, but in general, mapmakers using their powers to litigate factional and personal grievances isn’t hard to imagine.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Lawyers had to mark up a hypothetical patent that, according to the blog post, contained many substantive and stylistic errors.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of hypothetical
Adjective
  • 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
  • Our work re-imagines these ancient tombs as theatrical spaces, built to perpetuate a form of metaphysical human experience.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of metaphysical
Adjective
  • Under the concept True Dystopic, the #LINK Vertical program brings together auteur documentary and genre cinema, using real locations in Rio de Janeiro as settings for imagining speculative futures.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The governor, who is up for reelection in November, said speculative proposals to build data centers had swamped Pennsylvania.
    — Salena Zito, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of speculative
Adjective
  • Then there’s the new electric Jaguar, a machine that inflamed the Internet and became the subject of global controversy when its conceptual precursor was revealed in late 2024.
    — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
  • In the process, American comedy went from being a writer’s medium, conceptual and self-aware, to a more tonal form that rewarded actors’ screen presence and sense of timing.
    — Dan Brooks, New Yorker, 10 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
  • The power Whitney expressed was more abstract than Beyoncé’s heavy-handed, and still astonishing, Super Bowl halftime performance in 2016, in which the artist stormed the field with a battalion of women dressed as Black Panthers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In this photo illustration, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) logo is seen displayed on a smartphone in front of abstract background on computer screen.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of abstract
Adjective
  • Rituals is already active in the youth mental health space as cofounder of Super Chill, a program that uses playful mind and body exercises to help children recognize their emotions and develop mental resilience.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • If Thompson was found to be incompetent due to a mental condition, he likely won’t ever be executed.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 8 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 15 Oct. 2026.

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