POSTULATES Synonyms: 110 Similar and Opposite Words

postulates 1 of 2

noun

plural of postulate

as in assumptions

something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning one of the postulates that the true agnostic rejects is the assumption that it is even possible for us to know whether God exists

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postulates

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of postulate

as in assumes

to take as true or as a fact without actual proof postulates that all people are born with certain rights that can never be taken away from them

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of postulates

Noun

Not really Dagmar Bruss, professor and Head of the Quantum Information Theory group at HHU, and her doctoral researcher, Pedro Barrios Hita, conducted a new analysis of the postulates used in the 2021 paper and found one to be too restrictive. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 22 June 2026 Another postulates that sleep removes waste from the brain. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026

Verb

One of the theories postulates that the ribbon represents a group of particles that somehow leaked from the heliosphere and bounced around interstellar space before returning to the Solar System. — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for postulates

Noun

This moment captures a tension that Said faced in battling assumptions that deep political engagement somehow foreclosed the possibility of other interests.

— Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
Teams can test assumptions, gather feedback and decide whether an idea deserves another iteration or should be left behind.

— Stephen Clark, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of assumptions

Verb

But much of the deleveraging framework, Condon acknowledged, assumes the underlying businesses continue to perform largely in line with their pre-transaction trajectories, making execution incredibly important.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
The White House’s claim that truckers will save more than $100 per fill-up assumes states suspend their own diesel taxes as well, which the order encourages but can’t require.

— Steven John, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of assumes

Noun

Some universities have a long standing tradition of continually testing students’ ability to explain and rationalise their theories.

— Reynald Fasciaux, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
But when the 17-year-old Russian returns what seems like moments later with a solution to significantly advance the theories outlined in the paper, the professor finds himself with a new research partner.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of theories

Verb

The Justice Department also says Beijing is determined to sway American public opinion in its favor by cultivating relationships with political figures seen as having access to the levers of power.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Bravata says none of the cameras or the crew for the photoshoot were from the show.

— Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of says

Noun

Earlier studies have pointed to different hypotheses about the formation of the lunar magnetic field.

— Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026
Observation generates hypotheses; hypotheses lead to anatomical investigation; anatomy stimulates physiological questions; physiology eventually produces clinical trials.

— Subramaniam C. Krishnan, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of hypotheses

Verb

Homeownership has long been a marker of the American Dream, but this dream presumes autonomy, voice and equitable treatment.

— Stephanie A. Dhuman, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
But that logic presumes every single aspect of both studios’ production pipelines will continue to operate normally once Paramount and WBD become one.

— Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of presumes

Verb

With her appointment of a special prosecutor, Hochul believes Van Houten is not up to the task.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2026
Jones said the team believes its drilling results raise questions about some previous explanations of the site as a natural rock formation.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of believes

Verb

The new study, however, hypothesizes that shell direction is not itself an adaptive response, but rather is an accidental marker of a significant evolutionary event that starts in a small subpopulation and then sweeps across vast ocean basins.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 11 Sep. 2026
The study hypothesizes that the supergiant reversion may trigger a cool-down period.

— Jay Kakade July 23, Refractor, 23 July 2026

Definition of hypothesizes

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“Postulates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/postulates. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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noun

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