Actual
Actual adjective - Existing in fact and not merely as a possibility.
Usage example: the actual outcome of the election was quite different from what everybody had expected
Theoretical
Theoretical adjective - Existing only as an assumption or speculation.
Usage example: the merits of the new testing procedures are purely theoretical, since no one has ever used them before
Actual is an antonym for theoretical.
Both words in one sentence
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There hasn't been any actual cases where this has happened; it's only theoretical.
Source: Explosive Instrumentation -
This mess remains an eminently teachable lesson in force multipliers and the disconnect between theoretical force and actual combat capability.
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Often have trouble telling the difference between the 'paper'/theoretical and 'actual' strength and performance of forces.
Source: Armchair Military
Cite this Source
Theoretical and Actual. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/actual/theoretical
Actual & Theoretical. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/actual/theoretical>.
Theoretical or Actual. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/actual/theoretical.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "actual" and "theoretical" have occurred on timeline