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
The Athletic has taken a speculative leap and analysed several strikers that would fit the bill, including one previously linked to West Ham but coveted by the Premier League’s top clubs.
—
Mark Carey, New York Times, 4 July 2025
But the Michigan Supreme Court overruled that decision, concluding that Goss' theory was not speculative, and that his case should proceed.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 3 July 2025
Also worth watching this month are a frothy Bravo debut, a speculative drama about the end of Denmark, and a golf comedy starring Owen Wilson.
—Judy Berman, Time, 27 June 2025
Even with the recent resurgence in speculative stocks, the Schwab US Large-Cap Value ETF (SCHV), is outperforming its growth sibling, the Schwab US Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG) +8.35% versus +4.34% year-to-date.
—James Berman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Mark Carey, New York Times, 4 July 2025
But the Michigan Supreme Court overruled that decision, concluding that Goss' theory was not speculative, and that his case should proceed.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 3 July 2025
Also worth watching this month are a frothy Bravo debut, a speculative drama about the end of Denmark, and a golf comedy starring Owen Wilson.
—Judy Berman, Time, 27 June 2025
Even with the recent resurgence in speculative stocks, the Schwab US Large-Cap Value ETF (SCHV), is outperforming its growth sibling, the Schwab US Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG) +8.35% versus +4.34% year-to-date.
—James Berman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculative
Adjective
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Meanwhile, civil society groups, ranging from the Electronic Frontier Foundation to the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, argue that those harms are not hypothetical, but are here now.—
Paulo Carvão,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
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The challenge here was to think about a hypothetical world unique and singular to the world of the film – neither past, present nor future.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
3 July 2025
Adjective
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Final Approach The consequences are no longer theoretical.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
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For the first time in decades, the question of succession is no longer theoretical.—
Pegah Banihashemi,
Twin Cities,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Speculative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculative. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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