postulating
Putting forth assumptions
Postulating is proposing something as a basis for reasoning or discussion, typically without proof: The theory postulates that early humans migrated in waves.
In mathematics and logic, to postulate is to assume a premise as given.
The word carries a formal, academic tone—you postulate hypotheses, not lunch plans.
Inferring without proof
- surmisingInferring without certainty
- guessingEstimating without certainty
- wonderingFeeling curiosity about something
- supposingConjecture as premise
musing · pondering · contemplating · theorizing · imagining · entertaining · considering · reflecting
Testable proposed explanation
- theoryExplanatory set of principles
- conjectureGuess from limited facts
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
axiom · theorem · corollary · principle · philosophical · epistemology · abstraction · framework
Foundation for logical argument
- suppositionBelief without proof
- presuppositionImplicit prior assumption
- conjectureGuess from limited facts
- assumptionUnverified belief accepted as true
given · basis · presuming · stipulating · predicate · antecedent · groundwork · proviso
Statement expressing a judgment
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
- contentionAssertion or rivalry
suggestion · assertion · claim · submission · idea · advancing · offering · presenting
conjecturing
Inferring without proof
- surmisingInferring without certainty
- guessingEstimating without certainty
- wonderingFeeling curiosity about something
supposing · musing · pondering · contemplating · theorizing · imagining · entertaining · considering · reflecting · questioning
hypothesis
Testable proposed explanation
- theoryExplanatory set of principles
- conjectureGuess from limited facts
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
thesis · axiom · theorem · corollary · principle · philosophical · epistemology · abstraction · framework · reasoning
premise
Foundation for logical argument
- suppositionBelief without proof
- presuppositionImplicit prior assumption
- conjectureGuess from limited facts
assumption · given · basis · presuming · stipulating · predicate · antecedent · groundwork · proviso · precondition
proposition
Statement expressing a judgment
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
contention · suggestion · assertion · claim · submission · idea · advancing · offering · presenting · formulating
- assertionsassertions, asserting, assert, statements, stating
- conjecturinghypothesizing, theorizing, speculating, conjecturing, supposing
- thinkingthinking, reasoning, thought, ponder, contemplate
postulatingproving
Establishing validity through evidence
demonstrating · verifying · establishing · confirming · substantiating
postulatingquestioning
Seeking answers through inquiry
doubting · challenging · interrogating · disputing · scrutinizing
postulatingdenying
Refusing to acknowledge
rejecting · refuting · disproving · negating · repudiating