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 is, however, a third way—between skepticism and UFO belief, there is plenty of room for theorizing.
—
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
In the decades since, theorizing of the relationship between natural and artificial literature spawned a whole new academic field, generally within English departments.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
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
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
Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
In the decades since, theorizing of the relationship between natural and artificial literature spawned a whole new academic field, generally within English departments.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theorizing
speculating
Verb
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Two months later, chairman Lord Triesman, who passed away earlier this year, was forced to quit after being recorded speculating about referees being bribed at the World Cup.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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The first issue of Publick Occurrences contained a few items of local news and, notably, one salacious sentence speculating that King Louis XIV of France was sleeping with his son’s wife.—
Adrienne LaFrance,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theorizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theorizing. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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