as in possible
existing only as a possibility and not in fact
I can see a few potential problems with co-owning a beach house with another couple
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in possibility
something that can develop or become actual
a time when cloning was merely a potential and the stuff of science fiction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of potential
David Englert, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2025
Speaker Mike Johnson said that per capita caps and changing the federal match rates are not on the table, but they were included in the earlier House Republican memo detailing potential cuts.
—Nicole Huberfeld, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2025
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2025
On top of its other benefits, this shampoo also has the potential to stimulate hair growth—and increase shine.
—Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for potential
Adjective
Almost one year ago a consultant delivered a report to the Department of Administrative Services from the CAS Decarbonization Study intended to identify potential scenarios to meet the environmental objectives of Gov. Ned Lamont’s Executive Orders 1 and 21-3.
—David Englert, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2025
Speaker Mike Johnson said that per capita caps and changing the federal match rates are not on the table, but they were included in the earlier House Republican memo detailing potential cuts.
—Nicole Huberfeld, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
While a wide range of filmmakers have embraced the potential of AI to enhance production and bring about efficiencies, the technology has been a hot button for unions given the potential risk to industry jobs.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2025
On top of its other benefits, this shampoo also has the potential to stimulate hair growth—and increase shine.
—Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for potential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potential
Adjective
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He has been floated as a possible presidential candidate in 2028.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC News,
7 Mar. 2025
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The focus of Thursday's summit will be finances, and how to set the EU up as quickly as possible to provide for its own security, and help Ukraine, while breaking with decades of dependence on the U.S. defense umbrella.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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What makes the possibility of Ovechkin breaking Gretzky’s goal record this season so special is that Ovechkin would be doing it at the same seasonal rate as Gretzky did.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
The Athletic,
6 Mar. 2025
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Three possibilities are uncertainty among business leaders and consumers, rising business costs due to tariffs, and the high likelihood business leaders will raise prices to limit the damage to their margins.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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At a preliminary monthly board meeting Wednesday, Acero parents and teachers expressed mixed emotions about the prospect of closing the two campuses — Paz and Cruz — that weren’t laid out to be saved in last week’s resolution.—
Ikram Mohamed,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Mar. 2025
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With the James Bond franchise now under the control of Amazon, a few directors are no longer as excited about the prospect of helming a 007 movie.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Potential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potential. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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