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
Modern portfolio theory has long shown that concentrated positions create unnecessary risk.
—
Alex Ohnona, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
The series takes a comprehensive look at the case, airing evidence that was never shared with the jury and conversations with sources whose recollections upend prosecutors’ theory of the crime.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
Others chimed in with water brand theories — or rather, beverages with special electrolyte concoctions.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Together, these results support a theory known as the polygyny threshold model.
—David W. Lawson, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for theory
Alex Ohnona, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
The series takes a comprehensive look at the case, airing evidence that was never shared with the jury and conversations with sources whose recollections upend prosecutors’ theory of the crime.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
Others chimed in with water brand theories — or rather, beverages with special electrolyte concoctions.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Together, these results support a theory known as the polygyny threshold model.
—David W. Lawson, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for theory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theory
Noun
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In proving their hypothesis, researchers fed LLMs continually with X posts that were either short and viral or were shaped to grab users’ attention.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
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This notion supports the continuity hypothesis of dreaming, which proposes that dream content often reflects aspects of a person’s waking life.—
Stacey Colino,
Time,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Based on Boss’ checks, the TJX thesis is still alive and well.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
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That’s the thesis of Returning to Myself, Carlile’s eighth solo album.—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Theory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theory. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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