as in theoretical
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
Katia Riddle, NPR, 11 Mar. 2026
Dallas was a hypothetical landing spot for both Crosby and Hendrickson.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026
The Library of Congress has discussed these hypotheticals, but notes neither the 12th nor the 22nd Amendment clearly addresses such scenarios.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Adjective
After conversing with the bots, participants correctly identified the hypothetical condition only about a third of the time.
—Katia Riddle, NPR, 11 Mar. 2026
Dallas was a hypothetical landing spot for both Crosby and Hendrickson.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
And if the hypotheticals are not enough to dissuade, history is littered with teams trading away their future for immediate glories, seeing their plans implode, and being left with a ruinous future that becomes a hopeless present while another team reaps the benefits.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026
The Library of Congress has discussed these hypotheticals, but notes neither the 12th nor the 22nd Amendment clearly addresses such scenarios.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypothetical
Adjective
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Perhaps, now that my theoretical love life was upon all of us, my mother was having second thoughts about the value of my happiness.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
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However, a new theoretical study suggests that the road to this promise is much longer than many researchers had hoped.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Shor’s milestone result underscored the importance of quantum encryption methods that didn’t require assumptions about mathematical difficulty.—
Ben Brubaker,
Quanta Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
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The approach aimed to support faster scenario evaluation, clearer tradeoffs, and greater alignment on organizational assumptions.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The building features 28-foot clear heights, concrete tilt-panel construction, 4,032 square feet of speculative office space, trailer parking and is designed to accommodate a wide range of user needs.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
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If the surprisingly rough-and-tumble world of 16th-century playwrights doesn’t immediately compel you, know that this is the kind of book in which every page is filled with an unexpected twist or insight (however speculative or hard to prove these conclusions may turn out to be).—
Rhian Sasseen,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Researchers developed a new approach, the constant inner potential density functional theory, which enables the inclusion of the electrode potential in the simulation of semiconductor electrochemistry.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
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In addition to being politically fraught, the plan would undoubtedly be the target of litigation under a variety of legal theories.—
Jon Coupal,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Such failures provide a learning opportunity, a chance to reassess hypotheses and try again.—
Mariangela Lisanti,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
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One hypothesis for why, Huang said, involves chronic inflammation — a long-term immune response linked to conditions such as metabolic liver disease, heart disease and diabetes.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hypothetical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypothetical. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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