as in theoretic
existing only as an assumption or speculation
we talked about what we would do in various hypothetical emergencies
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as in assumption
something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning
believes that predictions of the extinction of certain species as the result of global warming are based upon too many hypotheticals
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Recent Examples of hypothetical
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2025
In this hypothetical, any reunification of the Mona Lisa in any museum would do.
—Ralph Leonard, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2025
In the 1990s, during which Calment was still alive, most scientists believed humans were approaching a hypothetical limit, according to Natalia Gavrilova, a senior research associate at the Center on the Demography and Economics of Aging at the University of Chicago.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 3 Feb. 2025
As one hypothetical valuation method, Neuringer suggests taking the Canal’s contribution to Panama’s $83 billion annual GDP—estimated by the Canal Authority in 2023 at between three and six percent, or roughly $2.5 billion to $5 billion—and multiplying it by the length of any deal.
—Kyle Khan-Mullins, Forbes, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hypothetical 
Adjective
As a hypothetical, Miami — within cap rules — could trade Butler, Josh Richardson (on a minimum deal) and a first round pick for Durant, and then do a separate trade that could hypothetically include other players.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2025
In this hypothetical, any reunification of the Mona Lisa in any museum would do.
—Ralph Leonard, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2025
In the 1990s, during which Calment was still alive, most scientists believed humans were approaching a hypothetical limit, according to Natalia Gavrilova, a senior research associate at the Center on the Demography and Economics of Aging at the University of Chicago.
—Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 3 Feb. 2025
As one hypothetical valuation method, Neuringer suggests taking the Canal’s contribution to Panama’s $83 billion annual GDP—estimated by the Canal Authority in 2023 at between three and six percent, or roughly $2.5 billion to $5 billion—and multiplying it by the length of any deal.
—Kyle Khan-Mullins, Forbes, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hypothetical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypothetical
Noun
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And so is having people around you who can argue with you and question your assumptions.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2025
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Our analysis also makes some other conservative assumptions given the policy’s uncertainty.—
Emily Badger,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Idahoans United said details in the financial statement — including mention of the state’s $850 million annual Medicaid budget — are misleading and speculative.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Jan. 2025
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The precise modeling of potential gains and losses for such speculative investments is basically impossible.—
Vineer Bhansali,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But actually, Darwin’s theory is based on fitness to survive, which does not always mean big and strong.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
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For highly social animals like humans and other primates, the native opioid system may also play a role in social bonding, according to one influential theory.—
Moises Velasquez-Manoff Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton,
New York Times,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This type of cosmic phenomenon is named after the famous theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, whose theory of general relativity proposed that objects with mass distort the fabric of spacetime—making such 'gravitational lensing' effects possible.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
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Elsie supplements her work as an adjunct professor in theoretical physics by offering up herself as a fake girlfriend.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
4 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Design and conduct experiments to test that hypothesis 3.—
Andrew Binns,
Forbes,
10 Feb. 2025
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The findings suggest a focus on reversing epigenetic markers may be the wrong approach for trying to reverse aging, and a competing hypothesis around the relationship between aging and DNA mutations may be a better approach.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hypothetical
Cite this Entry
“Hypothetical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypothetical. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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