as in assumptions
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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Recent Examples of hypotheticals
The conservative justices peppered Stewart with hypotheticals.
—
Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
And after a seventh-straight loss and a second straight season left spiraling, hypotheticals could only carry USC and its coach so far.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
If hypotheticals about what could have been are a good dream for New York Knicks fans, then Mikal Bridges is the alarm clock that startles them awake.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
No more leaning on hypotheticals.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
With so many decisions to make, the Chiefs would have to get awfully creative to extend cornerback Trent McDuffie (who is entering the final year of his contract), which is why his name has floated in trade hypotheticals.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2026
And if the hypotheticals are not enough to dissuade, history is littered with teams trading away their future for immediate glories, seeing their plans implode, and being left with a ruinous future that becomes a hopeless present while another team reaps the benefits.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026
The Library of Congress has discussed these hypotheticals, but notes neither the 12th nor the 22nd Amendment clearly addresses such scenarios.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Dec. 2025
His forthcoming book outlines a series of extreme hypotheticals, including succession scenarios triggered by national emergencies.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 18 Dec. 2025
Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
And after a seventh-straight loss and a second straight season left spiraling, hypotheticals could only carry USC and its coach so far.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
If hypotheticals about what could have been are a good dream for New York Knicks fans, then Mikal Bridges is the alarm clock that startles them awake.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
No more leaning on hypotheticals.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
With so many decisions to make, the Chiefs would have to get awfully creative to extend cornerback Trent McDuffie (who is entering the final year of his contract), which is why his name has floated in trade hypotheticals.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2026
And if the hypotheticals are not enough to dissuade, history is littered with teams trading away their future for immediate glories, seeing their plans implode, and being left with a ruinous future that becomes a hopeless present while another team reaps the benefits.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2026
The Library of Congress has discussed these hypotheticals, but notes neither the 12th nor the 22nd Amendment clearly addresses such scenarios.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Dec. 2025
His forthcoming book outlines a series of extreme hypotheticals, including succession scenarios triggered by national emergencies.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 18 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypotheticals
Noun
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Physically frail, yet in full verbal command, Julian doesn’t talk to Lori so much as at her, pausing only to fire off questions that harden, in midair, into assumptions.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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Those assumptions are shaped by training data drawn predominantly from English-language sources based in the United States.—
Gareth Barkin,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some of her theories apparently came to her in vivid dreams.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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The Witch Farm is inspired by the real events, theories, and witness accounts, but the BBC series will create or change some elements of the story for dramatic purposes.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hypotheticals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypotheticals. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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