Antonyms 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.

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

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

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

1. theory

   Antonyms:
   fact, truth

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

Matched Categories

1. • Belief
   • Explanation

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms: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

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

1. theorynoun

   Synonyms:
   hypothesis

How to use theory in a sentence?

1. Jan L. A. van de Snepscheut:

   In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.

2. John Cavadini:

   He doesn’t thereby canonize or dogmatize a scientific theory, which by its very nature is subject to falsification and revision, but it is within the pope’s competence and authority to call attention to our moral responsibilities and duties in the face of the best scientific theory out there, especially when the consequences of not doing so are serious or even drastic, and where silence could be interpreted as scandalous.

3. Paul Feyerabend:

   Knowledge is not a series of self-consistent theories that converges toward an ideal view; it is rather an ever increasing ocean of mutually incompatible (and perhaps even incommensurable) alternatives, each single theory, each fairy tale, each myth that is part of the collection forcing the others into greater articulation and all of them contributing, via this process of competition, to the development of our consciousness.

4. Rick Perdue:

   There's a lot of people that believe this, look at the stuff that's going on in Congress now. We're certainly not unique in having high level people that follow the QAnon conspiracy theory information.

5. Fox News:

   They want to silence everyone, what happens when you sendout an email questioning, say, climate change and all of a sudden Gmail says, nah, we’re not deliver your email anymore. What, are you going to tell me that it is a conspiracy theory? I thought wiping Parler off the face of the Earth was a conspiracy too until I lived it.

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