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
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2024
In their current form, the viewpoints are hypothetical concerns raised by non-parties.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Dec. 2024
To get into this hypothetical portfolio, a stock must have five-year historical earnings growth of 25% a year or better, yet the stock price must be 12 times earnings or less.
—John Dorfman, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Nick Saban and others in the SEC often point to hypothetical point spreads or the number of NFL players on a team’s roster.
—Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hypothetical 
Adjective
Luckily for the hypothetical Dame Brian, who is on this hypothetical island after he, in actuality, said Jeff should be fired, this never comes to pass.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2024
In their current form, the viewpoints are hypothetical concerns raised by non-parties.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Dec. 2024
To get into this hypothetical portfolio, a stock must have five-year historical earnings growth of 25% a year or better, yet the stock price must be 12 times earnings or less.
—John Dorfman, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Nick Saban and others in the SEC often point to hypothetical point spreads or the number of NFL players on a team’s roster.
—Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hypothetical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypothetical
Noun
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The acquisition also includes the assumption of over $2 billion in Nordstrom's debt, signaling a significant financial commitment from the buyers.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
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This approach aligns seamlessly with Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) principles, which advocate for continuous verification and the assumption that threats could exist both inside and outside the organization.Jeremy Vaughan, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The idea of self-reflective agents ventures into speculative territory.Douglas B. Laney, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
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Many speculative pockets of the stock market surged Thursday, the first session of the new year, right after the S&P 500 closed out the best two-year run since 1998.Yun Li, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The theory is one of many being pursed by law enforcement and investigators are working to determine if the string of recent burglaries are connected and if so, who might be responsible.Robert Legare, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2024
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The Courage to Be Disliked is based on Adlerian theory, a psychology created by Austrian psychotherapist, Alfred Adler, that encourages people to embrace the possibility of being disliked by others in order to live more freely.Renée Onque, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The theoretical matchups fans anticipated during the offseason are finally starting to play out on the court, adding a new wrinkle to the traditional rivalries of league play.Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
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Each year, the Robot – a naïve stock-picking paradigm, generates a theoretical portfolio of ten very unpopular stocks.John Dorfman, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The link between nomadic lifestyles and ADHD has been proposed before, but in February, a team led by David Barack applied that hypothesis to foraging.Ryan McRae, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Dec. 2024
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Reducing the amount of acetaldehyde, the hypothesis goes, should also reduce the physical symptoms caused by its buildup.Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Hypothetical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypothetical. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.
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