hypothetical
adjective
hy·po·thet·i·cal
ˌhī-pə-ˈthe-ti-kəl 
: involving or being based on a suggested idea or theory : being or involving a hypothesis : conjectural
hypothetical arguments
a hypothetical situation
hypothetical
noun
Synonyms of hypothetical
Examples of hypothetical in a Sentence
She described a hypothetical case to clarify her point.
we talked about what we would do in various hypothetical emergencies
Recent Examples on the Web
Summit County Commissioner Eric Mamula warned that the concern is no longer hypothetical.
—
Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Unlike Coop, whose thievery is driven by financial desperation, Hamm’s hypothetical motivation is pure mischief.
—Ryan Brennan
april 1, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
But the Education Department’s recalculation change means that, for some borrowers, those hypothetical payments are now being assessed at higher amounts than before.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Instead of posing questions about geography or world affairs, the test asked him to tackle hypothetical situations, from the frustrating to the dangerous.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
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Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Unlike Coop, whose thievery is driven by financial desperation, Hamm’s hypothetical motivation is pure mischief.
—Ryan Brennan
april 1, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
But the Education Department’s recalculation change means that, for some borrowers, those hypothetical payments are now being assessed at higher amounts than before.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Instead of posing questions about geography or world affairs, the test asked him to tackle hypothetical situations, from the frustrating to the dangerous.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Cite this Entry
“Hypothetical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypothetical. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hypothetical
adjective
hy·po·thet·i·cal
ˌhi-pə-ˈthet-i-kəl
1
: involving a hypothesis or the making of assumptions : assumed
2
: imagined for purposes of example
a hypothetical case
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