| Main Entry: | theory |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | hypothesis, belief |
Synonyms: |
approach, argument, assumption, base, basis, code, codification, concept, conditions, conjecture, doctrine, dogma, feeling, formularization, foundation, grounds, guess, guesswork, hunch, idea, ideology, impression, method, outlook, philosophy, plan, position, postulate, premise, presentiment, presumption, proposal, provision, rationale, scheme, shot*, speculation, stab*, supposal, suppose, supposition, surmise, suspicion, system, systemization, theorem, thesis, understanding |
Antonyms: |
certainty, fact, proof, reality |
| Main Entry: | assumption |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | taking something for granted; something expected |
Synonyms: |
acceptance, accepting, assuming, belief, conjecture, expectation, fancy, guess, hunch, hypothesis, inference, posit, postulate, postulation, premise, presumption, presupposition, shot in the dark, shot*, sneaking suspicion, stab, supposal, supposition, surmise, suspicion, theorization, theory |
Antonyms: |
doubt, unexpected |
| Main Entry: | basis |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | foundation for belief, action |
Synonyms: |
antecedent, assumption, authority, axiom, backbone, background, backing, base, bedrock, cause, center, chief ingredient, core, crux, data, dictum, essence, essential, evidence, explanation, footing, fundamental, hard fact, heart, infrastructure, justification, keynote, keystone, law, nexus, nucleus, postulate, premise, presumption, presupposition, principal element, principle, proof, reason, root, rudiment, sanction, security, source, substratum, support, theorem, theory, underpinning, warrant |
| Main Entry: | belief |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | putting regard in as true |
Synonyms: |
acceptance, admission, assent, assumption, assurance, avowal, axiom, certainty, conclusion, confidence, conjecture, conviction, credence, credit, deduction, divination, expectation, faith, fancy, feeling, guess, hope, hypothesis, idea, impression, intuition, judgment, knowledge, mind, mindset, notion, opinion, persuasion, position, postulation, presumption, presupposition, profession, reliance, supposition, surmise, suspicion, theorem, theory, thesis, thinking, trust, understanding, view |
Antonyms: |
disbelief |
| Main Entry: | belief |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | something regarded as true |
Synonyms: |
assumption, concept, credence, credo, creed, doctrine, dogma, faith, fundamental, gospel, gospel truth, hypothesis, idea, ideology, law, opinion, postulate, precept, principle, say-so, tenet, theorem, theory |
Antonyms: |
disbelief, nonbelief |
| Main Entry: | concept |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | idea |
Synonyms: |
abstraction, apprehension, approach, big idea, brain wave, brainchild, conceit, conception, conceptualization, consideration, fool notion, hypothesis, image, impression, intellection, notion, perception, slant, supposition, theory, thought, twist, view, wrinkle |
| Notes: | a concept is a more definite, more unitary, more complete type of notion than is a conception, which is more of an ideational structure with a potential for realization (rather like a schema) |
Antonyms: |
being, concrete |
| Main Entry: | conjecture |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | speculation, assumption |
Synonyms: |
conclusion, fancy, guess, guesstimate, guesswork, hunch, hypothesis, inference, notion, opinion, perhaps, presumption, shot in the dark, sneaking suspicion, stab in the dark, supposition, surmise, theorizing, theory |
Antonyms: |
fact, proof, reality, truth |
| Main Entry: | guess |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | belief, speculation |
Synonyms: |
assumption, ballpark figure, conclusion, conjecture, deduction, divination, estimate, fancy, feeling, guesstimate, guesswork, hunch, hypothesis, induction, inference, judgment, notion, opinion, postulate, postulation, prediction, presumption, presupposition, reckoning, shot in the dark, shot*, sneaking suspicion, stab*, supposal, supposition, surmisal, surmise, suspicion, theory, thesis, view |
Antonyms: |
calculation, measurement |
| Main Entry: | idea |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | something understood, planned, or |
Synonyms: |
aim, approximation, belief, believed abstraction, brainstorm*, clue, concept, conception, conclusion, conviction, design, doctrine, end, essence, estimate, fancy, feeling, flash*, form, guess, hint, hypothesis, import, impression, inkling, intention, interpretation, intimation, judgment, meaning, notion, object, objective, opinion, pattern, perception, plan, purpose, reason, scheme, sense, significance, solution, suggestion, suspicion, teaching, theory, thought, understanding, view, viewpoint |
| Main Entry: | ideology |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | beliefs |
Synonyms: |
Weltanschauung, articles of faith, credo, creed, culture, dogma, ideas, outlook, philosophy, principles, system, tenets, theory, view |