theoretical
adjective
the·o·ret·i·cal
ˌthē-ə-ˈre-ti-kəl 
ˌthir-ˈe-ti-kəl
variants
or less commonly theoretic
ˌthē-ə-ˈre-tik
ˌthir-ˈe-tik
1
: existing only in theory : hypothetical
gave as an example a theoretical situation
2
a
: relating to or having the character of theory : abstract
b
: confined to theory or speculation often in contrast to practical applications : speculative
theoretical physics
3
: given to or skilled in theorizing
a brilliant theoretical physicist
Synonyms
Examples of theoretical in a Sentence
On a theoretical level, hiring more people seems logical.
The idea is purely theoretical at this point.
The danger is more than just a theoretical possibility.
Recent Examples on the Web
But unlike the 2023 interview, the topics Welker brought up and Trump's response to them are no longer theoretical campaign promises.
—
Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 8 Dec. 2024
At its peak, around 3:00 am PT the following morning, the coin had a theoretical total value of $72 million; the tokens the teenager had initially held were worth more than $3 million.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024
Such a sweeping act of clemency covering even theoretical crimes over the course of a decade went beyond the scope of any since at least the Watergate era, when President Gerald R. Ford pardoned his disgraced predecessor, Richard M. Nixon, for any crimes even though he had not been charged.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024
In this case, the researchers weren’t comparing individuals to one another, but rather people to themselves under a theoretical, different environmental condition.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for theoretical 
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Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 8 Dec. 2024
At its peak, around 3:00 am PT the following morning, the coin had a theoretical total value of $72 million; the tokens the teenager had initially held were worth more than $3 million.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024
Such a sweeping act of clemency covering even theoretical crimes over the course of a decade went beyond the scope of any since at least the Watergate era, when President Gerald R. Ford pardoned his disgraced predecessor, Richard M. Nixon, for any crimes even though he had not been charged.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024
In this case, the researchers weren’t comparing individuals to one another, but rather people to themselves under a theoretical, different environmental condition.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for theoretical
Dictionary Entries Near theoretical
Cite this Entry
“Theoretical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theoretical. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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theoretical
adjective
the·o·ret·i·cal
ˌthē-ə-ˈret-i-kəl
ˌthi(-ə)r-ˈet-
variants
also theoretic
1
a
: relating to or having the character of theory : abstract
b
: limited to theory or speculation : speculative
theoretical physics
2
: existing only in theory : hypothetical
a theoretical situation
theoretically
adverb
-i-k(ə-)lē
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