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
Mukund Jha, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Pentagon officials have warned that the deficits jeopardized the military’s ability to prevail in a hypothetical conflict against Russia or China.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
No more leaning on hypotheticals.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Adjective
Those worries are not hypothetical.
—Mukund Jha, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Pentagon officials have warned that the deficits jeopardized the military’s ability to prevail in a hypothetical conflict against Russia or China.
—Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
If hypotheticals about what could have been are a good dream for New York Knicks fans, then Mikal Bridges is the alarm clock that startles them awake.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
No more leaning on hypotheticals.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypothetical
Adjective
-
With all of the film’s complicated theoretical physics and flowery musings about the power of love and time, going melodramatic could push the film into eyeroll territory.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
The emergence of synthetic performers such as Tilly Norwood reflects how quickly those questions have moved from theoretical to practical.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
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Over time, this creates a foundation for a feedback loop in which incentive programs can be designed and optimized based on measurable outcomes rather than assumptions.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The important thing is that infinity is no longer the default assumption.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But as the novel slips into a more speculative mode, Nora is transported to an asylum in the French countryside of 1946.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
-
Six months ago, people arguing that AI was a bubble were pointing to real-world facts, whereas people arguing against the bubble hypothesis were making speculative promises about the future.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The adult world is studied and emulated in a manner that suggests praxis but no theory.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
There is one theory that people may outlive their physical bodies but there may be a way to upload their consciousness into a digital realm where human existence could go on indefinitely.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
The critical window hypothesis has emerged from re-analysis of WHI data itself, not from pharmaceutical research.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
2 May 2026
-
Six months ago, people arguing that AI was a bubble were pointing to real-world facts, whereas people arguing against the bubble hypothesis were making speculative promises about the future.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hypothetical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypothetical. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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