as in hypotheses
an idea that is the starting point for making a case or conducting an investigation
set out to prove her theory that people can't really taste any difference between colas, so they buy according to the product's image
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Recent Examples of theories
The Manhattan district attorney’s office contends that there are no double jeopardy issues because neither of Mangione’s cases has gone to trial and because the state and federal prosecutions involve different legal theories.
—
Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
The case boiled down to video of the incident and dueling theories by defense and prosecution experts on police use of force.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
The images could help scientists further develop theories of how matter behaves in the extreme environments around supermassive black holes, which have masses of millions or even billions of suns and are found at the hearts of all large galaxies.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025
And what are your theories about Giuntoli’s mystery role?
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 16 Sep. 2025
Modern theories like genetics, relativity, and Big Bang cosmology, as well as concepts in chemistry, geoscience, physiology, linguistics, and psychology were all suppressed.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Like those of many revolutionary leaders, his theories originate from personal life experiences.
—Fatemeh Jamalpour, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
While the last 25 years eroded acceptance of the complex theories from this group within economics, Friedman’s prescription remains valid.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 14 Sep. 2025
In a study written fifteen years after Touraine’s Social Movements article, Morris takes on social movement theories from the mid-twentieth century to the turn of the twenty-first.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025
Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
The case boiled down to video of the incident and dueling theories by defense and prosecution experts on police use of force.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
The images could help scientists further develop theories of how matter behaves in the extreme environments around supermassive black holes, which have masses of millions or even billions of suns and are found at the hearts of all large galaxies.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025
And what are your theories about Giuntoli’s mystery role?
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 16 Sep. 2025
Modern theories like genetics, relativity, and Big Bang cosmology, as well as concepts in chemistry, geoscience, physiology, linguistics, and psychology were all suppressed.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Like those of many revolutionary leaders, his theories originate from personal life experiences.
—Fatemeh Jamalpour, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
While the last 25 years eroded acceptance of the complex theories from this group within economics, Friedman’s prescription remains valid.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 14 Sep. 2025
In a study written fifteen years after Touraine’s Social Movements article, Morris takes on social movement theories from the mid-twentieth century to the turn of the twenty-first.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theories
hypotheses
Noun
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This flexible system allows performers to switch between hypotheses of how dinosaurs might have sounded.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
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Investigators initially had 12 hypotheses about what caused the deadly collapse, per The Miami Herald.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Theories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theories. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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