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
Know More Republicans have a theoretical agreement on ending the now-54-day DHS closure.
—
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 Apr. 2026
This isn’t a theoretical argument.
—Melanie La Rocca, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
For a child who is struggling, time isn’t theoretical.
—Angelette C. Aviles, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2026
For Mehdi Ghadimi, the ideology behind Iran’s ruling system is not theoretical.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theoretical
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 Apr. 2026
This isn’t a theoretical argument.
—Melanie La Rocca, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
For a child who is struggling, time isn’t theoretical.
—Angelette C. Aviles, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2026
For Mehdi Ghadimi, the ideology behind Iran’s ruling system is not theoretical.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theoretical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theoretical
Adjective
-
The anxiety is no longer hypothetical.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Summit County Commissioner Eric Mamula warned that the concern is no longer hypothetical.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The movie addresses metaphysical questions such as the egregore of a generation, the nature of evil, and the search for God in times of His absence.—
PhotoVogue,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The most fundamental consequences of being struck by lightning are often metaphysical, and not easily communicable.—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Without that information, conclusions about feasibility are at best speculative.—
Charles Rilli,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
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When speculative trades piled in, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia were forced to abandon their currency pegs, triggering cascading defaults and deep economic contractions that were worsened by International Monetary Fund austerity programs.—
Anniek Bao,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sales of photography, moving-image work, sculpture, and most conceptual work have shriveled up, except at the very highest levels.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Of course, that’s all a bit conceptual in practice, even if the whiskey is very good and interesting (and this new Maker’s Mark is both).—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Projections of economic gains from major sporting events are typically optimistic, euphoric, chimerical or conjectural.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
-
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
-
For the people living through it, war is not abstract.—
Maliha Rahman,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Rauschenberg was presumably familiar with Siskind’s views on the inherently abstract nature of photography.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This story is part of Peak, The Athletic’s desk covering the mental side of sports.—
Mike Conley,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
-
For generations, 911 operators have been the backbone of the American emergency response network, answering calls for help, and then dispatching and coordinating police and firefighters, SWAT teams, mental-health counselors and animal-control officers.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theoretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theoretical. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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