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
Refraining from adding personal conjecture or hypotheses might reduce any bias LLMs bring into their calculations.
—
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The objective was to confuse enemy U-boat captains trying to determine the speed and direction of those ships, and a 1919 study seemed to support that hypothesis.
—ArsTechnica, 31 Mar. 2025
Related article Historic asteroid sample reveals the ‘building blocks of life are in fact extraterrestrial in origin,’ scientists say
Yet another hypothesis suggests that organic molecules didn’t originate on Earth at all.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025
Largest Organics Yet Discovered on Mars Watch on To test the feasibility of this hypothesis, the researchers mixed a fatty acid into Mars-like clay and processed it in a lab back on Earth.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothesis
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The objective was to confuse enemy U-boat captains trying to determine the speed and direction of those ships, and a 1919 study seemed to support that hypothesis.
—ArsTechnica, 31 Mar. 2025
Related article Historic asteroid sample reveals the ‘building blocks of life are in fact extraterrestrial in origin,’ scientists say
Yet another hypothesis suggests that organic molecules didn’t originate on Earth at all.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025
Largest Organics Yet Discovered on Mars Watch on To test the feasibility of this hypothesis, the researchers mixed a fatty acid into Mars-like clay and processed it in a lab back on Earth.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypothesis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypothesis
Noun
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That’s just a theory, not a spoiler or even a prediction.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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The site goes on to advance the theory that COVID-19 originated in a Wuhan lab and undermines Trump’s political rivals like Joe Biden and Andrew Cuomo.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This moment of revelation should, by all rights, be the sweeping and profound thesis statement of The White Lotus’s third season.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
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If that’s the case the short-term pain may prove too much to bear, regardless of the longer-term thesis.—
Niall Stanage,
The Hill,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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These are not radical propositions but instead form baseline expectations for any organization that is entrusted with the lives, safety and stories of vulnerable people.—
Sughnen Yongo,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Design should be a proposition that anchors us in the present moment.—
Mark Holgate,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hypothesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypothesis. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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