as in theoretical
existing only as an assumption or speculation
we talked about what we would do in various hypothetical emergencies
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in assumption
something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning
believes that predictions of the extinction of certain species as the result of global warming are based upon too many hypotheticals
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hypothetical
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
These are not hypothetical concerns.
—
Yunus Emre Tozal,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
9 Apr. 2026
The conservative justices peppered Stewart with hypotheticals.
—
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Adjective
And unlike the Bennets, the Dashwood girls’ troubles are not hypothetical.
—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
These are not hypothetical concerns.
—
Yunus Emre Tozal,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
Noun
The hypothetical of Jerry Jones striking deals in New York, Chicago and other major cities might prove true, but whether that covers all markets and whether other owners would do the same are all question marks.
—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
9 Apr. 2026
The conservative justices peppered Stewart with hypotheticals.
—
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypothetical
Adjective
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When people see that scams can be built around them specifically, security habits stop feeling theoretical and start feeling necessary.
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After machine learning identified promising candidates, researchers verified them through theoretical calculations before synthesizing and experimentally confirming the materials.
Noun
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Here is a brief overview and judgement calls of several garden insects that challenge our assumptions about who belongs in which column.
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As with any heat metric, calculating the heat index involves making some assumptions about the person and the conditions around them.
Adjective
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Whether such an android would have a soul or be self-aware, Lee said that's more speculative.
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Their investment materials include the typical warnings, that positions can be illiquid, speculative and difficult to value.
Noun
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Germ theory also emerged in the late 1800s, in which scientists discovered that germs caused disease.
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The two budding geniuses would sit in Charles’ apartment for hours, talking music theory and analyzing records, though Jones’s curiosity occasionally exhausted Charles.
Noun
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The interest rate hypothesis points the wrong direction — the most rate-sensitive occupations, like construction, have the lowest AI exposure.
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Science is designed to estimate risk, test hypotheses, identify patterns, and reduce the likelihood of false causal inference.
Cite this Entry
“Hypothetical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypothetical. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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