in the abstract

ADJECTIVE

hypothetic

Synonyms

WEAK

abstract academic analytical as a premise assumed codified conjectural contingent formalistic formularized general hypothetical ideal idealized ideational ideological imaginative impractical in theory instanced intelle

ADJECTIVE

theoretic

Synonyms

WEAK

abstract academic analytical as a premise assumed codified conjectural contingent formalistic formularized general hypothetic hypothetical ideal idealized ideational ideological imaginative impractical in theory instanced intellectual logical metaphysical notional on paper pedantic philosophical postulated presumed problematical pure quixotic speculative suppositional tentative transcendent transcendental unearthly unproved unsubstantiated vague

ADJECTIVE

theoretical

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abstract academic analytical imaginative intellectual logical metaphysical philosophical speculative vague

WEAK

as a premise assumed codified conjectural contingent formalistic formularized general ideal idealized ideational ideological impractical in theory instanced notional on paper pedantic postulated presumed problematical pure quixotic suppositional tentative transcendent transcendental unearthly unproved unsubstantiated

Antonyms

STRONGEST

concrete ignorant illogical material objective physical real simple

WEAK

certain definite factual proven

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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in the abstract

Pollock, who died in 1956, was a major figure in the abstract expressionist art movement.

From BBC ● May 19, 2026

You don’t have to deny the pain caused by recent inflation to acknowledge that affordability in the abstract, detached from any circumstance, is meaningless.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 14, 2026

And I always thought about that in the abstract, but now I try to make the movies not only about the moment I’m in, but about me.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 19, 2025

This estimate was revised from 59 million hectares in the abstract to a final total of 38 million hectares.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 18, 2025

For most of us, the periodic table is a thing of beauty in the abstract, but for chemists it established an immediate orderliness and clarity that can hardly be overstated.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

in the abstract

Example Sentences

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