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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Gerry Regep, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2025
But 80 years to the week after American and European allies forced the surrender of Nazi Germany, a future in which the continent is left alone to defend itself from the Russian menace is no longer hypothetical.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 5 May 2025
This means that your family and friends could use your Goby to explore the expansive Lego village in your basement, as just one hypothetical example.
—New Atlas, 28 Apr. 2025
These aren’t hypothetical scenarios, but active use cases in pilot programs around the world.
—Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Adjective
The question remains: Can a university truly be a marketplace of ideas if a professor risks being sanctioned for using hypothetical scenarios that reflect the messy, uncomfortable realities their students may face?
—Gerry Regep, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2025
But 80 years to the week after American and European allies forced the surrender of Nazi Germany, a future in which the continent is left alone to defend itself from the Russian menace is no longer hypothetical.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 5 May 2025
This means that your family and friends could use your Goby to explore the expansive Lego village in your basement, as just one hypothetical example.
—New Atlas, 28 Apr. 2025
These aren’t hypothetical scenarios, but active use cases in pilot programs around the world.
—Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypothetical
Noun
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Employees who challenge assumptions often face resistance from peers and leadership.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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Eaton derives roughly 17% of its total revenues from data centers, according to the company’s 2025 growth assumptions.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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Biden's attorney jumped in to clarify that Hur's team had asked a speculative question that did not reflect Biden's initial answer.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
18 May 2025
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Any financial instruments mentioned herein are speculative in nature and may involve risk to principal and interest.—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
12 May 2025
Noun
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My session stretched almost two hours, including a half-hour theory overview on the dunes.—
David Shortell,
Travel + Leisure,
12 May 2025
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One theory suggests Mars lost its water to space as solar wind stripped it from the atmosphere — a process supported by ratios of isotopes on the Red Planet, or distinct species of chemical elements, seen today.—
Victoria Corless,
Space.com,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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But to sacrifice Negan to The Dama in theoretical perpetuity?—
Charlie Mason,
TVLine,
5 May 2025
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And none of us could have imagined that our theoretical models would fit the data so well.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
3 May 2025
Noun
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That’s the hypothesis: people first, systems second.—
Dan Gardner,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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In the light of their findings, the researchers have two hypotheses that might explain Vesta's true identity.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hypothetical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypothetical. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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