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
Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 6 Nov. 2025
Companies themselves worked with everything from 0 to 80 per cent; Microsoft’s hypothetical decarbonization pathway appeared to count on close to 50.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Aaron Dhaliwal, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Governor does not comment on hypotheticals, spokesman says DeWine's reticence on the guard question came a little more than a half hour into a press conference called to announce a new agreement for the state patrol to assist crime-fighting in Cincinnati.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Adjective
Objective reasonableness, meanwhile, asks whether a hypothetical reasonable person would have also used force given the same circumstances.
—Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 6 Nov. 2025
Companies themselves worked with everything from 0 to 80 per cent; Microsoft’s hypothetical decarbonization pathway appeared to count on close to 50.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
In construction, hiring often relies on regional knowledge, team dynamics and reputation—factors that structured dialogue or hypotheticals cannot capture effectively.
—Aaron Dhaliwal, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Governor does not comment on hypotheticals, spokesman says DeWine's reticence on the guard question came a little more than a half hour into a press conference called to announce a new agreement for the state patrol to assist crime-fighting in Cincinnati.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypothetical
Adjective
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By modeling the physics behind this phenomenon, researchers discovered that the human hand’s sensitivity approaches the theoretical limit of what can be detected through mechanical reflections.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
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What Happens Next Some companies have experimented with shorter workweeks and reported gains in productivity and employee well-being, but the shift toward a widespread three-day or even four-day schedule is still largely theoretical.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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That assumption can result in models that may perform well in testing but flop when they’re actually used in the real world.—
Kathleen Walch,
Fortune,
11 Nov. 2025
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The findings contrast with the traditional assumption that coffee promotes unhealthy heart rhythms, according to the study.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Any financial instruments mentioned herein are speculative in nature and may involve risk to principal and interest.—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
10 Nov. 2025
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Since its inception in 2013, the festival has taken place in Los Angeles in the fall, showcasing speculative cinema from around the globe.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The special explores theories about why the thieves targeted specific displays, who orchestrated this brazen operation and which fatal flaws in their plan ultimately led to their capture.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
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The showgirl theory also holds in that fashion diapers seem to have taken off almost only among celebrities.—
Julie Beck,
The Atlantic,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Additional tests of the hypothesis are likely to follow.—
Ian Randall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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This is known as the photoprotection hypothesis.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hypothetical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypothetical. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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