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
Relevance
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
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
The Senate’s discharge mechanism was designed as a theoretical pressure valve, not a practical weapon.
—
Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
Let’s play out a theoretical scenario for a moment.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026
Crépel, meanwhile, continues to operate as a theoretical quantum physicist.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026
These challenges are not theoretical.
—Martha E. Stark, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theoretical
Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
Let’s play out a theoretical scenario for a moment.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026
Crépel, meanwhile, continues to operate as a theoretical quantum physicist.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026
These challenges are not theoretical.
—Martha E. Stark, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theoretical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theoretical
Adjective
-
None of that damage is hypothetical.—
Jon Duffy,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The killing of Comperatore adds another dead body to the hypothetical stage directions, or else marks things going hideously off-script, still without breaking the surrounding secrecy.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The exhibition embraces contradiction, images that are grotesque and sacred, humorous and terrifying, physical and metaphysical.—
George Nelson,
ARTnews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Glenn Turner Turner is a leftist Oakland activist who retired after running a metaphysical and pagan shop for 30 years.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Developers routinely file speculative interconnection requests for projects that never get built, flooding queues with phantom demand.—
Tejasri Gururaj,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The original ordinance was intended to prevent speculative demolition so that a developer could not tear down a house without approval to build a new one.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Where these collections once prioritized open-toed sandals and breezy silhouettes, more ostentatious and conceptual collections have instead followed suit.—
Alexandra Hildreth,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Pre-Development Agreement includes a conceptual master plan for the redevelopment of the Lincolnwood Town Center, consisting of a large retail store with a footprint of about 150,000 – 175,000 square feet, an automobile dealership, and additional commercial and retail uses, the release said.—
Pioneer Press,
Chicago Tribune,
27 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
-
While the term sounds abstract, the idea is straightforward.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Also on display at Greene Naftali are a number of his immobile fabric figures and abstract line drawings.—
Dawn Chan,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The people behind Fire in the Mountains have teamed with the Firekeeper Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention and mental wellness for the Blackfeet Nation community, making the festival’s raison d’être feel more noble than your standard summer shindig.—
David Harris,
SPIN,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The sheep rise to the occasion and use all the mental mystery-solving skills George and his stories have left behind.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theoretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theoretical. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
