Synonyms of hypothesis

hypothesis

noun

hī-ˈpä-thə-səs 

as in theory

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• theory
• thesis
• proposition
• premise
• assumption
• suggestion
• guess
• supposition
• impression
• proposal
• inference
• theorem
• hunch
• conjecture
• suspicion
• speculation
• presumption
• notion
• generalization
• concept
• presupposition
• surmise
• concession
• construct
• conception
• guesswork
• abstraction
• feeling
• proffer
• inkling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fact
• knowledge
• assurance
• certainty

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun hypothesis differ from other similar words?

The words law and theory are common synonyms of hypothesis. While all three words mean "a formula derived by inference from scientific data that explains a principle operating in nature," hypothesis implies insufficient evidence to provide more than a tentative explanation.

a hypothesis explaining the extinction of the dinosaurs

When can law be used instead of hypothesis?

The synonyms law and hypothesis are sometimes interchangeable, but law implies a statement of order and relation in nature that has been found to be invariable under the same conditions.

the law of gravitation

In what contexts can theory take the place of hypothesis?

The words theory and hypothesis can be used in similar contexts, but theory implies a greater range of evidence and greater likelihood of truth.

the theory of evolution

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hypothesis

There’s a new generation of drugs about to hit the market that didn’t originate with elegant hypotheses, but rather from brute-force analyses of massive datasets. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 17 July 2026

This means that some of the hypotheses for how magnetoreception operates – for instance, through light-sensitive cryptochromes in the eyes – are not well supported by our results. — Laura Russo, The Conversation, 17 July 2026

That would have dedicated more than a tenth of the NIH’s annual budget to investigating a hypothesis already refuted by scientists worldwide. — CNN Money, 16 July 2026

But one hypothesis, largely debunked, is that Mycenae was invaded by Dorians from the Peloponnese peninsula. — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026