as in theoretical
existing only as an assumption or speculation
we talked about what we would do in various hypothetical emergencies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hypothetical
Jeffrey S. Trimbath, Baltimore Sun, 20 Apr. 2026
For example, in a hypothetical scenario where total damages equal $100,000, if a court or insurance company determines the injured party was 10% at fault for the crash, the final award would be reduced by that percentage, or $10,000.
—William Jones, Sacbee.com, 17 Apr. 2026
James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
No more leaning on hypotheticals.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Adjective
The stakes are not hypothetical.
—Jeffrey S. Trimbath, Baltimore Sun, 20 Apr. 2026
For example, in a hypothetical scenario where total damages equal $100,000, if a court or insurance company determines the injured party was 10% at fault for the crash, the final award would be reduced by that percentage, or $10,000.
—William Jones, Sacbee.com, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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
See All Example Sentences for hypothetical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypothetical
Adjective
-
Artificial Intelligence has evolved from a theoretical concept to a prevailing element of daily life.—
Kemba Walden,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the capacities cited may also represent theoretical potential or systems that are not consistently operating at full scale.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Over time, this creates a foundation for a feedback loop in which incentive programs can be designed and optimized based on measurable outcomes rather than assumptions.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The important thing is that infinity is no longer the default assumption.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Developers routinely file speculative interconnection requests for projects that never get built, flooding queues with phantom demand.—
Tejasri Gururaj,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The original ordinance was intended to prevent speculative demolition so that a developer could not tear down a house without approval to build a new one.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Stirs some theories, too, about said coach’s real feelings about the pick.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
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
-
To test their hypothesis, researchers transplanted a second heart into mice.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Our goal was to better test the hypothesis of an inborn gender difference in attention to, or interest in, other people.—
Lise Eliot,
The Conversation,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hypothetical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypothetical. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
