as in theories
something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning
the widespread assumption that violent entertainment leads to violent behavior in children your argument is faulty because it's based on erroneous assumptions
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Recent Examples of assumptions
The discovery challenges popular assumptions about how new species are found.
—
Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Leaders of the Upper Basin states also are raising objections, saying the Interior Department’s current options rely on flawed assumptions, fail to impose large enough cuts on the Lower Basin and go beyond the federal government’s authority.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Transparent data benefits everyone by grounding discussions in facts rather than assumptions.
—Rajiv Bhateja, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Changing the assumptions about risk, timing and the ground‑lease payment schedule changes the financial benefits, sometimes by tens of millions.
—Michelle Grau, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
Seen from Beijing, today's turmoil confirms rather than contradicts long-standing assumptions about global energy insecurity.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
Tariffs were already raising costs and complicating planning assumptions.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
These assumptions were amplified on the national stage last year when the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) took an axe to the federal workforce.
—John Atkinson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The broadcast signal remains governed by mid-20th century assumptions, while the digital ecosystem operates under an entirely different set of rules.
—Jay Caruso, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2026
Leaders of the Upper Basin states also are raising objections, saying the Interior Department’s current options rely on flawed assumptions, fail to impose large enough cuts on the Lower Basin and go beyond the federal government’s authority.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Transparent data benefits everyone by grounding discussions in facts rather than assumptions.
—Rajiv Bhateja, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Changing the assumptions about risk, timing and the ground‑lease payment schedule changes the financial benefits, sometimes by tens of millions.
—Michelle Grau, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
Seen from Beijing, today's turmoil confirms rather than contradicts long-standing assumptions about global energy insecurity.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
Tariffs were already raising costs and complicating planning assumptions.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
These assumptions were amplified on the national stage last year when the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) took an axe to the federal workforce.
—John Atkinson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The broadcast signal remains governed by mid-20th century assumptions, while the digital ecosystem operates under an entirely different set of rules.
—Jay Caruso, The Washington Examiner, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assumptions
Noun
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The latest research also provides strong evidence supporting long-standing theories of the Moon’s geological evolution, including the existence of an early global magma ocean that cooled unevenly, leaving distinct crust-mantle and chemical differences between the near and far sides.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Mar. 2026
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There are some 29 competing theories of consciousness.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Those limitations are likely to include not leaving the premises and not engaging in recreational drug or alcohol use.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
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Many of these explanations are based on false premises; some already seem to have been abandoned.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Police are looking at several hypotheses.—
Omer Bekin,
NBC news,
8 Mar. 2026
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The competing hypotheses, which seek to identify common traits between Little Foot and any of these species, highlight why the fossil continues to be such a rich resource of information that could contain clues to human evolution.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Teach your child to respect differing beliefs among friends and family members during the holiday.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
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Large language models are trained to be helpful and agreeable, often validating a user’s beliefs or emotions.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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ProPublica, in a 2023 story, reexamined the incident, the legal presumptions, the background of the men and Stingley’s father’s relentless legal campaign to bring the men into court.—
Megan O’Matz,
ProPublica,
16 Jan. 2026
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The series later won five Emmys, upending presumptions about the kinds of shows people still really want to watch.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Another postulates that sleep removes waste from the brain.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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As Jackie herself once reminded John, a Kennedy has no choice but to accept that the press and public will speculate, interpret, exaggerate, and invent notions about them based on their own suppositions.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
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O'Donnell took further issue with her feeling that Hasselbeck didn't defend her against suppositions that O'Donnell was un-American for her opposition to military advances.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assumptions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assumptions. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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