1
as in theoretical
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea
she has a notional understanding of romantic love but no actual experience of being in love
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imaginary
not real and existing only in the imagination
your computer's "visits" to various parts of cyberspace are entirely notional—you stay put and the Web pages come to you
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of notional
The right wing-back is outstanding at maintaining his width and providing an overlapping option, with the notional right winger (usually either Bergwijn or Simons) dropping inside to create an overload in midfield.
—
Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 10 July 2024
Note that the share price of e.l.f. is 26% higher than that of EL, so the notional exposure of one long elf call spread vs one short EL call spread does not offset one another perfectly.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2024
Massive volume of over 200 million shares ( three times average volume) states that the nearly $20 billion (notional value) of short positions raced to the exit door.
—Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024
Mauritius may have gambled with its national dowry, but its consideration for a destitute citizenry wasn’t merely notional.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for notional 
Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 10 July 2024
Note that the share price of e.l.f. is 26% higher than that of EL, so the notional exposure of one long elf call spread vs one short EL call spread does not offset one another perfectly.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2024
Massive volume of over 200 million shares ( three times average volume) states that the nearly $20 billion (notional value) of short positions raced to the exit door.
—Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024
Mauritius may have gambled with its national dowry, but its consideration for a destitute citizenry wasn’t merely notional.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for notional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for notional
Adjective
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The newspaper was referring to Planet Nine, a theoretical planet at the edge of the solar system.—
Ailsa Harvey,
Space.com,
17 Jan. 2025
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Martin Karplus, a Nobel Prize-winning theoretical chemist who used computers to model how complex systems change during chemical reactions, died last month at 94.—
Natasha Frost,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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If a planet is visible from the night side of Earth, it can only ever be seen along an imaginary path through the sky called the ecliptic.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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Monday’s victory was only a month and a week removed from one of the more embarrassing losses of the Knicks season, an NBA Cup quarterfinal loss Young punctuated by rolling a set of imaginary die on The Garden’s center-court logo.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Carlson’s images combust with metaphysical abundance.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
ARTnews.com,
6 Jan. 2025
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Though scientific evidence for crystal healing is yet to be established, many spiritual practitioners believe in their metaphysical properties, which are thought to support emotional and spiritual transformation.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
23 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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It’s described as a biopic, but Peppiatt admits some parts of the story are fictitious.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2025
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Detectives also found that Labelle allegedly altered several documents and provided the homeowner with fictitious receipts to deceive them, according to Riley.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Students observed him on the campus lawn hand-chiseling his first commission — an abstract rendition of a mother and child from an 8-foot-tall block of Georgia marble, which was installed next to the Fine Arts Building that fall.—
Mary Logan Bikoff,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
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In addition to vinyl, which is now a No. 1 bestseller on the retailer, Amazon’s lineup includes crewneck sweatshirts, graphic tees, CDs, cassettes, and posters featuring the abstract illustration.—
Anna Tingley,
Variety,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a reason that on his goalie mask is painted a mythical phoenix, rising from the ashes.—
Kevin Kurz,
The Athletic,
14 Jan. 2025
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What To Know Hindu pilgrims gather at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers, seeking liberation from the cycle of rebirth.—
John Mac Ghlionn,
Newsweek,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Should be a conceptual thinker with strategic and problem-solving skills.—
Terina Allen,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
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The problem with such a conceptual series is that the writers can get lost in the mythology and leave the characters and less exciting plot beats behind.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA TODAY,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In his office, Berg used an ice axe to pitch Smith on a collaboration, which would eventually follow a fictional frontiersman and mother-son duo navigating the Westward expansion.—
Abbey White,
The Hollywood Reporter,
18 Jan. 2025
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The duo first shared the screen in 1999's Any Given Sunday, which follows a fictional professional football team.—
Nicholas Rice,
People.com,
18 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near notional
Cite this Entry
“Notional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notional. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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