thesis

noun

ˈthē-səs How to pronounce thesis (audio)
Definition of thesisnext
1
as in argument
an idea or opinion that is put forth in a discussion or debate put forth the thesis that the electronic media's coverage of politics trivializes the workings of our democracy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in hypothesis
an idea that is the starting point for making a case or conducting an investigation it is not clear how the arguments you make actually support your thesis

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 thesis From this format emerges the tacit thesis that the Bicentennial cultural activities excelled at provoking critical, imaginative reflections on America’s past and future from artmakers and from ordinary citizens alike. — Anna Kornbluh, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026 Jackson gives you a whole clan of old-money Brooklyn Heights Stocktons, but the character who carries the thesis is Sasha, the middle-class New England girl who marries in and is instantly, permanently cast as the arriviste. — Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026 The thesis is that AI is going to shrink the workweek and people will fill the time with concerts and boxing and live theater. — Lane Brown, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026 At the University of Turin, Pavese wrote his thesis on Walt Whitman, which was initially rejected because of the evident influence of Croce and then passed, with honors, after Leone Ginzburg savvily intervened and found Pavese a new examiner. — Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thesis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thesis
  1. argument
  2. hypothesis
  3. contention
  4. theory
  5. assertion
Noun
  • But Lugo concurred with Teymouri’s argument that the family’s extreme wealth and potential risk of flight required her to set a high bail.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The argument is designed to provide cover for the dehumanizing policies of the administration against immigrants and their families.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of argument
Noun
  • Fusion equations meet robotics In nuclear fusion research, Google worked with University of Maryland professor Matt Landreman to identify a broader class of counterexamples to Grad’s conjecture, a mathematical hypothesis dating to 1967.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
  • That hypothesis stems from earlier research by Geoff Cook, the CEO of Noom, a digital health company that is funding the Wharton study.
    — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of hypothesis
Noun
  • But the bold irreverence that drew droves of devoted readers to Jezebel brought contention, too.
    — Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The fourth team in World Series contention, the Tampa Bay Rays, stands just above the Guardians in payroll at 25th, with about $98 million on the books.
    — Isaac Tellechea, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of contention
Noun
  • Framing theory explains how the presentation of information in the media influences the way people process and interpret it.
    — Heather LaMarre, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
  • His theory didn’t reach far beyond Japan until the translation of his original essay, first in 1978, then in 2005, and again, with Mori’s approval, in 2012.
    — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of theory
Noun
  • The battle — which escalated into a federal lawsuit filed Thursday by the Justice Department against the state, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Logan — features striking assertions of official misconduct.
    — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Data from container shipping market analysis firm Linerlytica supports the assertion of a traffic increase.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of assertion

Browse Nearby Words

theses
thesis
thesp
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thesis. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on thesis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about thesis

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All