1
as in theoretical
dealing with or expressing a quality or idea
she has a notional understanding of romantic love but no actual experience of being in love
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imaginary
not real and existing only in the imagination
your computer's "visits" to various parts of cyberspace are entirely notional—you stay put and the Web pages come to you
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of notional
His tax reform of 1978, a major priority, was dead on arrival even among notional allies.
—
Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2025
This could push China first over the finish line in a notional race to return Martian materials to Earth—but at considerable scientific cost.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 8 Jan. 2025
The upsides of this move are notional and long-term: Russia might someday return the favor by supporting Chinese territorial aspirations or cooperating on revising the structures of global governance.
—Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2022
The right wing-back is outstanding at maintaining his width and providing an overlapping option, with the notional right winger (usually either Bergwijn or Simons) dropping inside to create an overload in midfield.
—Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 10 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for notional
Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2025
This could push China first over the finish line in a notional race to return Martian materials to Earth—but at considerable scientific cost.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 8 Jan. 2025
The upsides of this move are notional and long-term: Russia might someday return the favor by supporting Chinese territorial aspirations or cooperating on revising the structures of global governance.
—Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2022
The right wing-back is outstanding at maintaining his width and providing an overlapping option, with the notional right winger (usually either Bergwijn or Simons) dropping inside to create an overload in midfield.
—Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 10 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for notional
Recent Examples of Synonyms for notional
Adjective
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Innovation should be practical and actionable, not just theoretical.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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Here's How To Remove Toxic 'Forever Chemicals' The Next Steps for Finding Answers Scientists have identified several theoretical ways that microplastics could contribute to cancer.—
Claire Bugos,
Verywell Health,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In the case of the imaginary fruit, for example, glucose and citric acid would be used.—
Gayoung Lee,
Scientific American,
28 Feb. 2025
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Some of the stories are set in the past, others in the present, and still others in an imaginary future.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But the sequences are also meant to be dream visions, metaphysical and cinematic escapes into an alternate dimension full of exquisite grandiosity and grace.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 Jan. 2025
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The movie is a metaphysical mystery, a sort of American gothic in which a warm and inviting old suburban house becomes the shivery site of a haunting, a confinement, and a menace.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The 10-episode series (now streaming) follows the follies of the fictitious NBA team, the Los Angeles Waves, after Isla Gordon (Hudson) steps in to run it with her brothers (Drew Tarver and Scott MacArthur) when another (Justin Theroux) checks into rehab.—
Erin Jensen,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
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Another alleged scam involved the defendants posing as fictitious real estate owners and tricking victims into thinking a legitimate sale of property was occurring, then pocketing the money.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The pair tested their approach on the Abstraction and Reasoning Corpus (ARC-AGI), an unbeaten visual benchmark created in 2019 by machine learning researcher François Chollet to test AI systems' abstract reasoning skills.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
6 Mar. 2025
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Each shot looks like a page out of a cursed tome of twisted, postmodern fairy tales, the images forbidding and slightly abstract.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The success of your AI initiatives doesn't depend on finding that mythical, perfect leader.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
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The temple is famous for its towering gopurams (gateway towers), each covered in a riot of colors and adorned with intricate sculptures of deities, demons, and mythical creatures from Hindu mythology.—
Shalbha Sarda,
Architectural Digest,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Buyers are still looking for the most commercial pieces, without taking the whole range or more conceptual looks.—
Rhonda Richford,
WWD,
7 Mar. 2025
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Their dexterity in formal skills is matched by their conceptual prowess.—
Shantay Robinson,
ARTnews.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Set in a fictional recreation of the Secunderabad area that gives the film its title, early glimpses have already generated substantial buzz among Indian cinema fans.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 Mar. 2025
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The series follows the (fictional) famous televangelist family of the Gemstones, led by widowed patriarch Eli (played by John Goodman) alongside his immature children Jesse (Danny McBride), Judy (Edi Patterson) and Kelvin (Adam DeVine).—
Kirsten Chuba,
The Hollywood Reporter,
6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Notional.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notional. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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