as in theoretic
existing only as an assumption or speculation
a speculative explanation of why this ancient pottery was found hundreds of miles from where it was made
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Recent Examples of speculative
Much of that capital is flowing into bitcoin infrastructure and applications — payments, privacy tools, custody solutions — rather than the speculative trading platforms of previous cycles.
—
Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 12 Apr. 2025
Opponents often take shots from speculative range against the goalkeeper, looking to test his wrists and focus as soon as possible.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Those social media posts are seen as speculative and have not been followed up by statement from rival media outlets in China, market watchers caution.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2025
To date, all changes are speculative in nature and are unlikely to be applied retroactively.
—Cindy McGhee, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 12 Apr. 2025
Opponents often take shots from speculative range against the goalkeeper, looking to test his wrists and focus as soon as possible.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Those social media posts are seen as speculative and have not been followed up by statement from rival media outlets in China, market watchers caution.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2025
To date, all changes are speculative in nature and are unlikely to be applied retroactively.
—Cindy McGhee, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculative
Adjective
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These aren’t hypothetical scenarios, but active use cases in pilot programs around the world.—
Kolawole Samuel Adebayo,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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A lot was still hypothetical, imagined and hopeful about what could be.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Indeed, the risk of diversion from Plaintiff's sales is more than theoretical—the government can prove that Plaintiff actually sold LSD to a minor as well as an undercover officer.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
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Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, for example, can yet orchestrate a theoretical swing of close to £12million ($16m), a significant sum for those requiring summer rebuilds on finite resources.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Speculative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculative. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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