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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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
Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Still, that doesn’t mean a future Democratic majority, which remains very hypothetical, would be without options if enough GOP lawmakers won’t join them.
—semafor.com, 10 July 2025
Under Ives’ plan, the hypothetical special committee mentioned above would also oversee the pay package and whether Musk has violated its boundaries.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 8 July 2025
Meanwhile, civil society groups, ranging from the Electronic Frontier Foundation to the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, argue that those harms are not hypothetical, but are here now.
—Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Adjective
Who would be most likely to snap him up in that hypothetical?
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Still, that doesn’t mean a future Democratic majority, which remains very hypothetical, would be without options if enough GOP lawmakers won’t join them.
—semafor.com, 10 July 2025
Under Ives’ plan, the hypothetical special committee mentioned above would also oversee the pay package and whether Musk has violated its boundaries.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 8 July 2025
Meanwhile, civil society groups, ranging from the Electronic Frontier Foundation to the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, argue that those harms are not hypothetical, but are here now.
—Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypothetical
Noun
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Finally, level 3 asset fair values must be calculated based on estimations and assumptions based on the latest available data on the measurement date.—
Tomas Milar,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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Its generality enabled Penrose to prove in three scant pages of math that, under his two assumptions, singularities will inevitably form.—
Charlie Wood,
Wired News,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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While estimates for the amount of guidance in existence or birthed yearly may not be as speculative as extrasolar planetary life, the magnitude remains bathed in the radiation of indifference.—
Clyde Wayne Crews Jr,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Butch Dill/Getty Images While the report is purely speculative at this point, Saban unretiring to get back into coaching wouldn't be a complete shock.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
Noun
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But Margulis took her theory further; in her view, symbiosis was the driving force of evolution, and many entities were likely composites.—
Zoë Schlanger,
The Atlantic,
23 July 2025
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But they have long been stuck between theory and the promise of commercialization in the next five to 10 years.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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From my perspective, these shifts aren’t theoretical.—
Jack Thorogood,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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Carter, who had a doctorate in theoretical physics, dispatched a team of officers to the Bay Area to set up an outpost—officially called the Defense Innovation Unit, but known at the Pentagon as Unit X.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Noun
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This hypothesis is largely extrapolated from research in mice.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
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Testing is still underway to confirm this hypothesis.—
Kameryn Griesser,
CNN Money,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hypothetical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypothetical. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
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