as in theories
an idea that is the starting point for making a case or conducting an investigation
working on the hypothesis that teenagers function better in the late morning, some high schools are starting classes later
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Recent Examples of hypotheses
Police are looking at several hypotheses.
—
Omer Bekin, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
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
Non-falsifiable and untestable hypotheses cannot be checked out, and hence those ideas are incapable of disproof.
—Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026
If there are answers to these questions, or informed hypotheses, this biography does not provide them.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Both of these hypotheses appear in preprints posted in the past two weeks, and each has already garnered its critics.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Even so, the model is helping scientists to prioritize which genetic variants are most likely to matter, narrowing the search from across the genome to a manageable set of testable hypotheses.
—Elie Dolgin, IEEE Spectrum, 4 Feb. 2026
As to what that is, Cook points to two hypotheses.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
The authors of the 2021 study have proposed two non-exclusive hypotheses for this behavior, the first of which relates to partner control and competition.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Omer Bekin, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
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
Non-falsifiable and untestable hypotheses cannot be checked out, and hence those ideas are incapable of disproof.
—Big Think, 10 Feb. 2026
If there are answers to these questions, or informed hypotheses, this biography does not provide them.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Both of these hypotheses appear in preprints posted in the past two weeks, and each has already garnered its critics.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Even so, the model is helping scientists to prioritize which genetic variants are most likely to matter, narrowing the search from across the genome to a manageable set of testable hypotheses.
—Elie Dolgin, IEEE Spectrum, 4 Feb. 2026
As to what that is, Cook points to two hypotheses.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
The authors of the 2021 study have proposed two non-exclusive hypotheses for this behavior, the first of which relates to partner control and competition.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypotheses
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
-
Ensure your home is securely locked when vacating the premises.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
-
By night, the scene softens with storm lanterns lit by hotel staff, who also patrol the premises.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Hypotheses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypotheses. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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