tentative

adjective

ˈten-tə-tiv How to pronounce tentative (audio)
Definition of tentativenext
as in conditional
determined by something else our plans are only tentative at this point and will depend on whether you can come

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tentative The Charlotte City Council received copies of the full, tentative airport use and lease agreement for the first time Tuesday. — Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026 And entering this week, a consensus is coalescing around the idea that last week's tentative firming in the majority of stocks will bail out investors not fully committed to the mega-cap leaders. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026 This has been the tentative plan since the postseason began and will ensure the Dodgers’ top two starters are available for a potential Game 5 and Game 6. — Katie Woo, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2026 Of course fans have come to expect big highlight plays from a Riley offense, but Maiava was unquestionably tentative the past few weeks and the offense wasn’t clicking. — Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tentative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tentative
  1. conditional
  2. dependent
Adjective
  • Trump added a new, seemingly conditional promise for Kentucky.
    — Michelle S. Price, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Loyal’s manufacturing submission to the FDA, expected in 2027, the final hurdle for conditional approval.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of conditional
Adjective
  • And as always, at the top level, the sport is dependent upon manufacturer largesse, something that usually vanishes in the face of worsening economic outlooks.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Malawi, which has among the highest fuel pump prices in Africa at more than $3 a liter, highlights the impact of a $100-plus per barrel crude price on import-dependent economies with thin buffers.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dependent

Browse Nearby Words

tentages
tentative
tentatively
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Cite this Entry

“Tentative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tentative. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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