theoretically
On paper only
Theoretically describes what should happen according to theory, logic, or principle—as opposed to what actually happens in practice.
Theoretically, the plan should work acknowledges doubt about real-world execution.
The word often signals skepticism: Theoretically, anyone can become president.
It can also mean in terms of theory rather than application: theoretically sound but practically useless.
Guess from limited facts
- suppositionBelief without proof
- postulationAssuming something as given
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- scenarioPostulated event sequence
possibility · what-if · counterfactual · plausibility · projection · extrapolation · modeling · simulation
Not yet proven true
- unconfirmedNot officially validated
- unsubstantiatedWithout supporting evidence
- untestedNot yet examined
- undemonstratedNot yet established
inconclusive · tentative · questionable · dubious · uncertain · indeterminate · unfounded · presumptive
Underlying support system
- paradigmGoverning framework of thought
- modelRepresentation or paradigm
- principleFundamental truth or standard
- axiomSelf-evident starting principle
postulate · abstraction · ideation · construct · schema · formulation · systematic · analytical
Almost but not quite
- actuallyIn truth, not supposedly
- realisticallyIn a sensible manner
- ideallyIn perfect circumstances
- nominallyIn name only
Theory of knowledge
- ontologyStudy of existence's nature
- metaphysicsPhilosophy of existence's nature
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
dialectic · rationalism · empiricism · idealism · phenomenology · existentialism · pragmatism · deduction
Educational funding or erudition
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- dissertationExtended academic treatise
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
- peer-reviewedEvaluated by field experts
journal · scholarly · textbook · lecture · seminar · curriculum · pedagogy · ivory-tower
conjecture
Guess from limited facts
- suppositionBelief without proof
- postulationAssuming something as given
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
scenario · possibility · what-if · counterfactual · plausibility · projection · extrapolation · modeling · simulation · assumption
unverified
Not yet proven true
- unconfirmedNot officially validated
- unsubstantiatedWithout supporting evidence
- untestedNot yet examined
undemonstrated · inconclusive · tentative · questionable · dubious · uncertain · indeterminate · unfounded · presumptive · conjectural
framework
Underlying support system
- paradigmGoverning framework of thought
- modelRepresentation or paradigm
- principleFundamental truth or standard
axiom · postulate · abstraction · ideation · construct · schema · formulation · systematic · analytical · structural
practically
Almost but not quite
- actuallyIn truth, not supposedly
- realisticallyIn a sensible manner
- ideallyIn perfect circumstances
nominally · supposedly · ostensibly · purportedly · technically
epistemology
Theory of knowledge
- ontologyStudy of existence's nature
- metaphysicsPhilosophy of existence's nature
- logicScience of valid reasoning
reasoning · dialectic · rationalism · empiricism · idealism · phenomenology · existentialism · pragmatism · deduction · induction
scholarship
Educational funding or erudition
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- dissertationExtended academic treatise
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
peer-reviewed · journal · scholarly · textbook · lecture · seminar · curriculum · pedagogy · ivory-tower · classroom
- adverbsquickly, slowly, very, really, now
- philosophy adverbslogically, rationally, ethically, morally, metaphysically
- evasionsno comment, dodge, deflection, hedging, equivocation
- Possibilitymaybe, perhaps, possibly, could, might
- formal adverbsaccordingly, consequently, furthermore, hence, hereby
- filler wordsum, uh, er, hmm, ah
theoreticallyempirically
Through direct observation
experimentally · observationally · demonstrably · evidentially · measurably
theoreticallypractically
Almost but not quite
in practice · in reality · actually · really · concretely
- theoretical physicistsScientists exploring nature through mathematics
- theoretical physicsNature explained through equations
- theoretical modelAbstract representation of phenomena
- theoretical frameworkOrganized set of principles