Synonyms for theory
ˈθi ə ri, ˈθɪər ithe·o·ry

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.4 / 5 votes

1. theory

   A hypothesis is a statement of what is deemed possibly true, assumed and reasoned upon as if certainly true, with a view of reaching truth not yet surely known; especially, in the sciences, a hypothesis is a comprehensive tentative explanation of certain phenomena, which is meant to include all other facts of the same class, and which is assumed as true till there has been opportunity to bring all related facts into comparison; if the hypothesis explains all the facts, it is regarded as verified; till then it is regarded as a working hypothesis, that is, one that may answer for present practical purposes. A hypothesis may be termed a comprehensive guess. A guess is a swift conclusion from data directly at hand, and held as probable or tentative, while one confessedly lacks material for absolute certainty. A conjecture is more methodical than a guess, while a supposition is still slower and more settled; a conjecture, like a guess, is preliminary and tentative; a supposition is more nearly final; a surmise is more floating and visionary, and often sinister; as, a surmise that a stranger may be a pickpocket. Theory is used of the mental coordination of facts and principles, that may or may not prove correct; a machine may be perfect in theory, but useless in fact. Scheme may be used as nearly equivalent to theory, but is more frequently applied to proposed action, and in the sense of a somewhat visionary plan. A speculation may be wholly of the brain, resting upon no facts worthy of consideration; system is the highest of these terms, having most of assurance and fixity; a system unites many facts, phenomena, or doctrines into an orderly and consistent whole; we speak of a system of theology, of the Copernican system of the universe. Compare SYSTEM.

   Synonyms:
   conjecture, guess, hypothesis, scheme, speculation, supposition, surmise, system

   Antonyms:
   certainty, demonstration, discovery, evidence, fact, proof

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. theory

   Synonyms:
   speculation, assumption, doctrine, scheme, system, supposition, hypothesis, plea

   Antonyms:
   fact, truth

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. theorynoun

   a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena

   "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory"

   Synonyms:
   possibility, hypothesis

2. hypothesis, possibility, theorynoun

   a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena

   "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices"

   Synonyms:
   possibleness, surmisal, hypothesis, possibility, opening, guess, conjecture, possible action, supposition, surmise, speculation

3. theorynoun

   a belief that can guide behavior

   "the architect has a theory that more is less"; "they killed him on the theory that dead men tell no tales"

   Synonyms:
   possibility, hypothesis

Matched Categories

1. • Belief
   • Explanation

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. theorynoun

   Synonyms:
   speculation, hypothesis, assumption, conjecture, postulate, plan, scheme, system

2. theorynoun

   Synonyms:
   science, philosophy, doctrine, abstract principles

3. theorynoun

   Synonyms:
   exposition, rationale, reason

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. theorynoun

   Synonyms:
   hypothesis

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "theory":

   theoretical, theories, théorie, doctrine, teoría, doctrines, lilun, thesis, principle

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How to use theory in a sentence?

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin:

   } The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Donald Trump to Moscow in weekend call 02:49 This most recent call with Putin comes amid fresh scrutiny of Trump's phone calls with foreign leaders and the White House's handling of those conversations, including recent attempts to limit the number of people who can listen in. It also occurred as Putin's influence on Donald Trump -- particularly Russian President Vladimir Putin views toward Ukraine -- is being closely examined. Reminder : The Washington Post reported that former Donald Trump administration officials feared Russian President Vladimir Putin had planted a conspiracy that Ukraine had interfered in the 2016 US election. One of the officials told the Post that Donald Trump considered the theory credible because trump credits impeachment for reelection fundraising haulThe President's 2020 campaign announced Thursday that it had raised $ 46 million in the final quarter of 2019, noting in a statement that the period represents.

2. Eliot Engel:

   There's a reason the Obama administration and The Trump administration, at least before this point, never made such audacious legal claims. The assertion that Congress has authorized the executive branch to use force against Iran is unsound. A bipartisan majority of both houses of Congress have rejected that view in just the past few weeks through congressional findings, the administration's position is dangerous. It holds Iran directly responsible for abuses committed by armed groups under a new-fangled theory that United States would not want to see applied to our support for armed forces including the Saudi bombing campaign in Yemen and the Syrian Kurdish forces' treatment of detainees.

3. Quisha King:

   They are reading the K-12 version of critical race theory, which is boiled down to this oppressor or oppressed talk… It is a dwindled down teaching of the theory. It is absolutely there, it’s not just in schools.

4. George Freeman:

   Sony is doing a lot of huffing and puffing but there's not much legal theory behind it.

5. Stephen Vladeck:

   President Bush wasn't the first to use signing statements, but President Bush used them more often than both President Bush predecessors and successors, and, as importantly, President Bush consistently used them to advance an aggressive theory of constitutional limits on Congress' power to interfere with the Executive Branch that was largely a novelty.