as in hypotheses
an idea that is the starting point for making a case or conducting an investigation
set out to prove her theory that people can't really taste any difference between colas, so they buy according to the product's image
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Recent Examples of theories
All three 2025 Nobel Prize winners in medicine used mice to help develop breakthrough theories about the immune system that led to new cancer treatments and advances in organ transplants.
—
Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Many have asked similar questions over the years, and wild theories abound.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
Out went the optimism about mRNA and in came wild theories that this miraculous, Nobel Prize-winning technology wasn’t safe.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 20 Mar. 2026
Wherever they’ve been challenged, from subatomic up to cosmic scales, these two classes of theories have always emerged victorious.
—Big Think, 19 Mar. 2026
There are theories about why GOP leaders undermine the cities and counties they are supposed to be representing.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
In fact, the mathematics underpinning Albert Einstein's theories of relativity offer up possibilities via the likes of wormholes and curved spacetime that might allow someone — or more likely something — to make a journey back into the past.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026
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
Juergen Habermas, one of the world’s most influential philosophers whose theories on communication and rationality shaped modern intellectual thought, died at 96.
—Geir Moulson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026
Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Many have asked similar questions over the years, and wild theories abound.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
Out went the optimism about mRNA and in came wild theories that this miraculous, Nobel Prize-winning technology wasn’t safe.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 20 Mar. 2026
Wherever they’ve been challenged, from subatomic up to cosmic scales, these two classes of theories have always emerged victorious.
—Big Think, 19 Mar. 2026
There are theories about why GOP leaders undermine the cities and counties they are supposed to be representing.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
In fact, the mathematics underpinning Albert Einstein's theories of relativity offer up possibilities via the likes of wormholes and curved spacetime that might allow someone — or more likely something — to make a journey back into the past.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026
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
Juergen Habermas, one of the world’s most influential philosophers whose theories on communication and rationality shaped modern intellectual thought, died at 96.
—Geir Moulson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theories
Noun
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Other active hypotheses that remain in play include that Gracey could have been drugged, taken drugs himself or ingested a large enough amount of alcohol to disorient himself.—
Michael Ruiz , Solly Boussidan,
FOXNews.com,
20 Mar. 2026
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The company, which just raised $14 million in seed funding from General Catalyst, Toyota Ventures, and Perplexity Fund, is among a growing number of self-driving labs that are drawing investor attention for their ability to use technologies that reason on new hypotheses.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In Iran, Tehran said that a projectile struck the premises of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant Tuesday evening, although no damage to the plant or injuries to staff were reported, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2026
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As penance, Prager would run the center, live on the premises and personally tend to patients for years, until the last one had died or his sentence was up.—
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theories. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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