postulate 1 of 2

Definition of postulatenext
as in assumption
something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning one of the postulates that the true agnostic rejects is the assumption that it is even possible for us to know whether God exists

Synonyms & Similar Words

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postulate

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of postulate
Noun
The reason, the authors of a new study postulate, has to do with light pollution. New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2025 Now, tangible results have emerged in a field replete with postulates and presumptions. Jenna Ahart, Quanta Magazine, 2 July 2025
Verb
That’s why Nobel Prize-winning chemist Christian Anfinsen postulated in 1972 that DNA alone should fully determine the final structure a protein takes. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025 Based on their findings, researchers postulate that Homo sapiens reacted better to lead exposure evolutionarily than Neanderthals, a species that were close relatives to Homo sapiens and that went extinct around 40,000 years ago. Mason Leath, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for postulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for postulate
Noun
  • After an open meeting on Wednesday, Federal Communications Chair Brendan Carr said that networks should operate under the assumption that shows like The View, Jimmy Kimmel Live!
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Certainly, Hondo looks pretty reflective and concerned in one of the first look stills as events challenge his legacy and his assumptions about authority, so sense of self.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • China is pairing dominant-market level tech with emerging-market production costs, backed by its massive supply chain, Green said.
    Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Prosecutors said Richard Tillman had loaded his vehicle with fire logs before backing the car through the post office's front door.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Manuel’s approach to narrative structure draws on literary and philosophical theory.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
  • And some have theorized that being a carrier for cystic fibrosis can defend against severe cholera, although the evidence for this theory is more scant.
    Roxanne Khamsi, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • But as Burnett’s television empire grew, other executive producers like Tom Shelly and Doug McCallie assumed the role of overseeing the day-to-day filming logistics, with Burnett still signing off on key creative elements.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Some people assume any gold purchase is automatically reported to the government.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Every experiment started with a hypothesis, a clear definition of success, and a plan to measure outcomes quickly.
    Julio Martínez, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Boyle’s hypothesis also predicts that dark matter could be explained by a particular kind of neutrino.
    Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Getty Images/iStockphoto With no Federal Reserve meeting on the calendar for February, homebuyers and owners hoping to refinance may have understandably presumed that mortgage interest rates would hold steady this month.
    Matt Richardson, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Krupa said it’s presumed that Celia Grayson ultimately made it to freedom in Canada, but Eliza stuck around in Chicago to work as a housekeeper.
    Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Like many others in his community, Awad believes the Israeli government intentionally neglects crime perpetrated against Palestinian citizens.
    Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Last Thursday, the league issued a $500,000 fine to the Utah Jazz and a $100,000 penalty to the Indiana Pacers for sitting healthy players, believing their apparent tanking actions compromised the league's competitive integrity.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The current reality of AI and white-collar work However, as AI experts hypothesize about when, and if, AI will disrupt white-collar work, the technology thus far has made only a small splash in professional services.
    Jake Angelo, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The study authors hypothesized that this early land animal initially fed on insects but over generations evolved into an herbivore.
    Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Postulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/postulate. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

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