THEORETICAL Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

theoretical

adjective

ˌthē-ə-ˈre-ti-kəl

variants also theoretic

Definition of theoretical

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

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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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 This is the moment enterprise AI sovereignty stops being a theoretical governance debate and becomes a practical survival skill. — Pawel Rzeszucinski, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 That timeline might be theoretical, but the concerns beneath it are not. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026 There is a theoretical possibility that a team taking too long over five simultaneous substitutions could be forced to play with six for a while, which could be fun. — Graham Scott, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 While the missing middle policy holds theoretical promise, public attitudes may be moving in the opposite direction. — Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for theoretical

Recent Examples of Synonyms for theoretical

Adjective

Then, in a famous 1937 paper, the mathematician Alan Turing devised a model based on hypothetical machines that could read and write symbols printed on an infinite tape according to a set of simple rules.

— Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026
Shirley said the bill set a bad precedent, giving a hypothetical scenario of someone hiring a third party to commit violence in order to pin the blame on him.

— Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of hypothetical

Adjective

Eddy has been spared the worst violence; the novel casts his racial privilege as a kind of metaphysical exemption.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
There seems to be a deliberate effort here to make the show more fun without dumbing down its metaphysical and philosophical implications.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of metaphysical

Adjective

Unitree’s recent slump has raised concerns about how Beijing may boost emerging strategic sectors without stoking a speculative frenzy.

— Anniek Bao,Elaine Yu, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
The premise places the film inside a debate that has moved rapidly from speculative fiction into everyday working life, but Lien’s approach leans away from techno-thriller territory.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of speculative

Adjective

As previously announced, the event which raises funds for amfAR’s mission to support HIV research and improve global health, will also honor conceptual and performance artist Marina Abramović with amfAR’s Award of Inspiration.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
An art adviser who doesn’t like Lalanne or the type of person who is drawn to them said that their worst pieces have no conceptual content.

— Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of conceptual

Adjective

But the film doesn’t have to be abstract and leave you longing and searching for answers and so forth.

— Steve Appleford, SPIN, 27 Aug. 2026
Physicists asking these questions have recently focused on an even more abstract space that seems especially well suited for their purposes.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of abstract

Adjective

Subsequent research actually backed him up, finding that habitual calculator use before students had internalized basic arithmetic weakened their mental fluency and fact retrieval.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
When discussing his current mental state, Jake was forthcoming about how difficult this time period has been.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of mental

Browse Nearby Words

theorems

theoretical

theories

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“Theoretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theoretical. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of theoretical

adjective

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