as in theory
an idea that is the starting point for making a case or conducting an investigation
working on the hypothesis that teenagers function better in the late morning, some high schools are starting classes later
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Recent Examples of hypothesis
Even as a unifying hypothesis was forming, the disease remained an enigma.
—
Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Palmer has exactly no time for Boyd’s hypothesis that Yoon’s death just might be connected to the fishiness of Kuragin’s off-books cargo shipments and orders her to keep her head down and help out with getting their arrest numbers up.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
In other words, the solution to the problem of the past hypothesis puzzle, or why the Universe possessed a low-entropy state at the start of the hot Big Bang, is because the Universe underwent a period of cosmic inflation.
—Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026
The leading hypothesis had been that a frozen vent had been preventing waste dumps into space.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hypothesis
Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Palmer has exactly no time for Boyd’s hypothesis that Yoon’s death just might be connected to the fishiness of Kuragin’s off-books cargo shipments and orders her to keep her head down and help out with getting their arrest numbers up.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
In other words, the solution to the problem of the past hypothesis puzzle, or why the Universe possessed a low-entropy state at the start of the hot Big Bang, is because the Universe underwent a period of cosmic inflation.
—Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026
The leading hypothesis had been that a frozen vent had been preventing waste dumps into space.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hypothesis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypothesis
Noun
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Stirs some theories, too, about said coach’s real feelings about the pick.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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In a new book, Geoff Kelly traces how the artworks moved through criminal networks, where violence took the lives of key suspects and witnesses, and challenges long-circulating theories by revisiting key details.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But the most rewarding aspect of Apex, which was directed by Baltasar Kormákur and written by Jeremy Robbins, is the degree to which Ben’s thesis holds true for Sasha as well.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
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Limon had been hard at work on his thesis for the past two years, studying how to use generative AI to monitor shrinking wetland in South Florida, his brother said.—
Isabel Rosales,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Paul Surguy, head of investment management and proposition at Kingswood Group, said the coming months will inevitably see significant movements up and down.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
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That value proposition seems to be resonating.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hypothesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypothesis. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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