as in hypothesis
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 theory
Taylor Swift's company Taylor Nation launched a new archive section on her website, sparking fan theories about new music.
—
Bryan West, USA Today, 21 July 2025
This theory would have no blind spots—all calculations should yield meaningful results.
—Charlie Wood, Wired News, 20 July 2025
On Tuesday afternoon, when a reporter attempted to ask Bondi about the foreign-intelligence theory and the video-clock issue, Trump cut in.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 10 July 2025
With the biggest advocate for the impact theory gone, the mystery has lingered for decades.
—Mike Bezemek, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for theory
Bryan West, USA Today, 21 July 2025
This theory would have no blind spots—all calculations should yield meaningful results.
—Charlie Wood, Wired News, 20 July 2025
On Tuesday afternoon, when a reporter attempted to ask Bondi about the foreign-intelligence theory and the video-clock issue, Trump cut in.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 10 July 2025
With the biggest advocate for the impact theory gone, the mystery has lingered for decades.
—Mike Bezemek, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for theory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theory
Noun
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This hypothesis is largely extrapolated from research in mice.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
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Testing is still underway to confirm this hypothesis.—
Kameryn Griesser,
CNN Money,
12 July 2025
Noun
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Nothing tests a thesis faster than a cold call to a busy healthcare executive.—
Mathieu Rihet,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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So, those two academic interests led me to an honors thesis focused on Palestinian refugees who were fleeing Syria.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Theory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theory. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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