as in speculating
to think of or suggest ideas about what is possibly true or real; to form or suggest a theory about something
Many scientists have theorized about the possibility of life on other planets.
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Recent Examples of theorizing
There was no indication of the context of the posts, which racked up millions of views, with many online commenters theorizing the accounts could have been hacked or that an official was cryptically teasing something.
—
Dylan Butts, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
The University of Minnesota has a theory on how the plant ended up back in the US, too, theorizing that someone from the Massachusetts Agricultural College (MAC, now the University of Massachusetts) brought seeds back from the forests near Sapporo, Japan in 1876.
—New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026
Not speaking from experience, just theorizing.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
For viewers who love theorizing, debating strategies, and watching together, the watch party has become a regular gathering spot.
—Holly Alvarado, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
Fittingly, more than a few observers have been eager to turn art into blood sport, pitting Coen against Coen, Safdie against Safdie, and theorizing about which sibling is the greater talent.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2026
That’s what the media and entertainment sector experienced in 2025, with Warner Bros Discovery shares surging 170% due to investor theorizing about the upside of the company’s acquisition by either Netflix or Paramount.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025
The venture capitalist Peter Thiel, for example, has invoked the antichrist in lectures, theorizing that such a figure might wield anti-AI sentiment to amass political power.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 23 Dec. 2025
Despite the gigabytes of information, this phase of the Epstein files seems unlikely to put the Epstein conspiracy theorizing to bed.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2025
Dylan Butts, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
The University of Minnesota has a theory on how the plant ended up back in the US, too, theorizing that someone from the Massachusetts Agricultural College (MAC, now the University of Massachusetts) brought seeds back from the forests near Sapporo, Japan in 1876.
—New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026
Not speaking from experience, just theorizing.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
For viewers who love theorizing, debating strategies, and watching together, the watch party has become a regular gathering spot.
—Holly Alvarado, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026
Fittingly, more than a few observers have been eager to turn art into blood sport, pitting Coen against Coen, Safdie against Safdie, and theorizing about which sibling is the greater talent.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2026
That’s what the media and entertainment sector experienced in 2025, with Warner Bros Discovery shares surging 170% due to investor theorizing about the upside of the company’s acquisition by either Netflix or Paramount.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025
The venture capitalist Peter Thiel, for example, has invoked the antichrist in lectures, theorizing that such a figure might wield anti-AI sentiment to amass political power.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 23 Dec. 2025
Despite the gigabytes of information, this phase of the Epstein files seems unlikely to put the Epstein conspiracy theorizing to bed.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theorizing
speculating
Verb
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Once news of the reboot broke online, social media chatter picked up, with fans speculating which eras the film may be set in.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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By the time the services let out, volunteers were speculating that the agents had more or less left town.—
Daniel Brook,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theorizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theorizing. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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