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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 speculative
What was once speculative technology is now steadily reshaping patient care.
—
Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
The state’s attorneys said that any injury or harm was speculative and that the immigrants already were subject to federal immigration enforcement, according to Heeren.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 30 Apr. 2025
The story is grounded in current urban tensions: skyrocketing rents, speculative real estate and cultural erasure.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
Fashion becomes a kind of speculative archive—a visual lexicon of memory, cultural inheritance, and individuality.
—Najha Zigbi-Johnson, Essence, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
The state’s attorneys said that any injury or harm was speculative and that the immigrants already were subject to federal immigration enforcement, according to Heeren.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 30 Apr. 2025
The story is grounded in current urban tensions: skyrocketing rents, speculative real estate and cultural erasure.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025
Fashion becomes a kind of speculative archive—a visual lexicon of memory, cultural inheritance, and individuality.
—Najha Zigbi-Johnson, Essence, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speculative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speculative
Adjective
-
Health has been viewed primarily as a function of hypothetical future costs in wealth planning.—
Joseph Coughlin,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
-
The debate over Rose’s place in Cooperstown is now more than a hypothetical.—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
For stock market investors, the equity risk premium is the theoretical excess return of stocks over risk-free assets to account for market risk.—
,
CNBC,
19 May 2025
-
Think of the 60 plus percentage rates advertised in the press as the ceiling or the theoretical maximum reimbursement rates.—
Shivaram Rajgopal,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Speculative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speculative. Accessed 31 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share