as in theoretical
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea
conceptual thinking is often the most demanding kind of mental activity
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Recent Examples of conceptual
That extended timeline has allowed organizers to move beyond conceptual planning and into operational detail earlier than usual.
—
Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Researchers in cognitive science have long theorized that conceptual thinking is informed by how the human body looks and moves.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
A lot of what happens in childhood profoundly affects the skills and challenges people have later in life, according to the conceptual paper published Tuesday in the journal Brain Health.
—CNN Money, 4 June 2026
From photography and sculpture to collage and bookmaking, this year’s awardees—Sara Cwynar, Nickola Pottinger, Trisha Baga, and Mimi Ọnụọha—span a wide range of artistic practices, conceptual concerns, and styles.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for conceptual
Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Researchers in cognitive science have long theorized that conceptual thinking is informed by how the human body looks and moves.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
A lot of what happens in childhood profoundly affects the skills and challenges people have later in life, according to the conceptual paper published Tuesday in the journal Brain Health.
—CNN Money, 4 June 2026
From photography and sculpture to collage and bookmaking, this year’s awardees—Sara Cwynar, Nickola Pottinger, Trisha Baga, and Mimi Ọnụọha—span a wide range of artistic practices, conceptual concerns, and styles.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for conceptual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conceptual
Adjective
-
The cycle resembled theoretical versions of a Big Bang followed by a Big Crunch, a scenario in which the universe’s expansion eventually reverses.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
-
Though theoretical predictions suggest quantum systems could accelerate AI optimization tasks by 10^6 or more for specific problem classes, quantum machine learning remains experimental.—
Chuck Brooks,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Mystical, metaphysical, and frequently touched by whimsy, his boundary-breaking work reflected his abiding interest in Surrealists such as Joseph Cornell, Giorgio di Chirico, and René Magritte.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
12 June 2026
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Some of the dialogue feels like Harrison’s own metaphysical musings rather than characters’ speech.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Everything about the place signals a level of unrestricted aesthetic devotion at which money seems almost an abstract annoyance.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
-
The shifting colors of the river could inspire a series of abstract canvases.—
Sarah Kingdom,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conceptual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conceptual. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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