Synonyms of speculative

speculative

adjective

ˈspe-kyə-lə-tiv 

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

• theoretic
• hypothetical
• theoretical
• conjectural
• academical
• proposed
• metaphysical
• conceptual
• academic
• suppositional
• debatable
• unproven
• unproved
• alleged
• presumed
• abstract
• supposed
• untested
• assumed
• moot
• presupposed
• intellectual
• nonclinical
• nonempirical
• nonpractical

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• actual
• real
• factual
• practical
• clinical
• definite
• concrete
• distinct
• defined
• demonstrated
• confirmed
• empirical
• observational
• substantiated
• empiric
• tested
• proven
• validated
• established
• verified
• attested
• authenticated
• nonspeculative
• time-tested
• nontheoretical

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of speculative

While such horse-trading remains speculative, national security experts in touch with Chinese regulators have told NPR that Chinese officials appear to be warming up to this possibility. —Bobby Allyn, NPR, 10 Jan. 2025

Some owners suffered huge losses after a speculative bubble drove prices up to nearly $1 million for one license a decade ago, then burst. —David Pierson, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025

The idea of self-reflective agents ventures into speculative territory. —Douglas B. Laney, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025

Many speculative pockets of the stock market surged Thursday, the first session of the new year, right after the S&P 500 closed out the best two-year run since 1998. —Yun Li, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2025