speculative

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈspɛkjələtɪv/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Based on conjecture or theory rather than on firm knowledge or evidence; involving guessing or theorizing.; Relating to or involving financial speculation; undertaken with the hope of profit but with a high risk of loss.; Given to or characterized by speculation; inquisitive or questioning in nature.; Involving or based on philosophical or theoretical reasoning rather than practical application.

🔗 Details

Word forms

Comparative: more speculative Superlative: most speculative

Collocations

speculative investmentspeculative bubblespeculative fictionspeculative tradingspeculative capitalhighly speculative

Derivatives

speculatespeculationspeculativelyspeculatorspeculativeness

Synonyms

conjecturalhypotheticaltheoreticaltentativeuncertainrisky

Antonyms

certaindefiniteprovenfactual

Commonly confused

speculation
EN: 'Speculation' is the noun (the act or instance of speculating); 'speculative' is the adjective describing something based on conjecture.
specious
EN: 'Specious' means deceptively attractive or plausible but actually wrong; 'speculative' means based on conjecture or involving financial risk.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the 'a' before '-tive': specul-a-tive (from 'speculate'), not *speculitive.

💬 Examples

  1. The article was highly speculative and lacked concrete evidence.

  2. The speculative bubble in the housing market eventually burst.

  3. She gave him a speculative look, wondering what his true intentions were.

  4. The philosopher's speculative writings explored the nature of consciousness.