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
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
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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
-
Simitthus, too, was designed for surveillance, discipline, and punishment—a place where the metaphysical machinery of incarceration was already in operation.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Nestled deep within the twisting metaphysical narratives and international wandering of Lux is a quick trip back to home base.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
2 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Procter & Gamble is our newest name, added to the portfolio last month as a way to add exposure to an economically resilient company that could benefit from a rotation away from speculative bets.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
8 Dec. 2025
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The stablecoin boom reflects how institutional investors and asset managers are becoming less focused on the speculative nature of crypto and toward what can actually be built now that the pipes actually work and the advantages of faster, cheaper, and more secure rails are becoming clear.—
Pete Najarian,
Fortune,
7 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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This season, the theme is ‘swimming pool’, with a conceptual installation by artists PhilĂ©o Landowski and Pascal Hachem, to represent a ‘spring of talent’, Cauli says.—
Lucy Maguire,
Vogue,
16 June 2026
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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
Adjective
-
Along those lines, Whitney found that a possible loss of revenue, drivers and sponsors to 23XI and Front Row seemed more conjectural than concrete.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 July 2025
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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
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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
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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
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Not everyone is as laudatory of the president’s age and mental acuity.—
Linda Marx,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theoretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theoretical. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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