as in theoretical
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
Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 June 2026
Well, now’s your chance to step into the shoes of a chief information security officer (CISO) of a hypothetical firm that’s just suffered a massive ransomware breach, thanks to IT Brew’s Block the Breach simulator.
—Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
Harry Booth, Time, 11 Mar. 2026
And after a seventh-straight loss and a second straight season left spiraling, hypotheticals could only carry USC and its coach so far.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Adjective
Today, the idea doesn’t feel old hat so much as depressingly immediate, as discussions of the ethical and existential ramifications of AI chatbots have migrated from the hypothetical to the everyday.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 June 2026
Well, now’s your chance to step into the shoes of a chief information security officer (CISO) of a hypothetical firm that’s just suffered a massive ransomware breach, thanks to IT Brew’s Block the Breach simulator.
—Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
Noun
In the view of the Department of Defense, Anthropic kneecapped the partnership by insisting on unnecessary guardrails, attempting to litigate specific hypotheticals, and then dragging its feet in the subsequent negotiations.
—Harry Booth, Time, 11 Mar. 2026
And after a seventh-straight loss and a second straight season left spiraling, hypotheticals could only carry USC and its coach so far.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypothetical
Adjective
-
The cycle resembled theoretical versions of a Big Bang followed by a Big Crunch, a scenario in which the universe’s expansion eventually reverses.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
-
Though theoretical predictions suggest quantum systems could accelerate AI optimization tasks by 10^6 or more for specific problem classes, quantum machine learning remains experimental.—
Chuck Brooks,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Noun
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But this case shows that assumption can fall apart fast.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
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Since life-cycle assessments are sensitive to assumptions and contextual factors, the data is intended as a proxy for identifying supply chain pressure points rather than as a benchmarking tool.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
17 June 2026
Adjective
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For companies and capital allocators alike, treating fundamental science as a speculative luxury rather than a core strategic imperative is a critical misstep.—
Alexandra Vidyuk,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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More than $233 million worth of the perp changed hands over the past 24 hours, while open interest climbed above $263 million, indicating sustained speculative demand.—
Ashley Capoot,CJ Haddad,Samantha Subin,Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
For a lender, the practical question is not whether the theory still exists.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
If that theory still holds, putative 2028 Democratic candidate Rahm Emanuel has an early advantage — in the bike lane.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
13 June 2026
Noun
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The memory consolidation hypothesis holds that sleep talking may be a byproduct, or even a signal, of the brain’s nightly memory processing.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
One answer is the Rare Earth hypothesis, which theorizes that our planet really is special.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hypothetical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypothetical. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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