What is another word for theory?

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

This thesaurus page includes all potential synonyms, words with the same meaning and similar terms for the word theory.

English Synonyms and Antonyms4.4 / 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 Antonyms0.0 / 0 votes

  1. theory

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

    Antonyms:
    fact, truth

Princeton's WordNet0.0 / 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

Dictionary of English Synonymes0.0 / 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 Words5.0 / 1 vote

  1. theorynoun

    Synonyms:
    hypothesis

How to pronounce theory?

How to say theory in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

rankingword
#136system
#1649theory
#2265opening
#2773guess
#2803scheme
#4175possibility
#4225principle
#5989thesis
#6019theoretical
#6758theories
#7150assumption
#8627hypothesis
#8637doctrine
#12702plea
#14041speculation
#22312doctrines
#22736conjecture
#48037supposition
#66872surmise
#74739theorie
#96995teoria

How to use theory in a sentence?

  1. Lissa Savaglio:

    [Republicans] are going to take everything that people are afraid of, throw it under ‘critical race theory’ and run with it.

  2. John Sparr:

    On paper, it is simple to calculate the amount of CO2 emissions a ton of coal will produce and then to calculate the number of trees it takes to consume the CO2, the problem with that theory is that you have to train the CO2 molecules to go to those trees. . . maybe we only burn coal when the wind is blowing in that direction ? And, oh yes, the trees, he said. Are these mature, 40-foot oak trees they are planting, or more likely 16-inch pine seedlings ? Do they realize how long it will take to get a mature forest capable of consuming the CO2 ?

  3. Harold Geneen:

    You can't run a business or anything else on a theory.

  4. Geoffrey Alpert:

    There’s no science behind it, it’s a good theory, but we have no idea if it’s accurate.

  5. Sheryl Craig:

    I've heard some very convincing presentations by doctors for the Addison's disease theory, so, when asked, I always say that it was probably Addison's disease.


Translations for theory

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"theory." Synonyms.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.synonyms.com/synonym/theory>.

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