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supposititious

supposititious

9.9
Based mainly on guesswork rather than proven facts
  • adjective
  • /ˌsʌpəˈzɪtɪʃəs/
translation icon : supositorio
  • Many theories about ancient civilizations are supposititious until new evidence comes to light.

Examples

  • Her reasons for leaving were supposititious, based on assumptions rather than facts.

  • In fact, the presence of a son in a sister's house was immaterial: a sister could marry her brother's daughter on behalf of a supposititious son (Krige 1938:279).

    Academic text (1998)
  • It is equally excellent and inconclusive to say that one must write from experience; to our supposititious aspirant, such a declaration might savour of mockery.

    Academic text (2010)
  • The detective dismissed the evidence as merely supposititious, lacking any real proof.

Synonyms

hypothetical
vssupposititious
126 6.9

Not proved and used for discussion or testing

expresses the same lack of proof but as general supposition
unsubstantiated
vssupposititious
38 7.5

Not supported by facts or proof

is instead based on conjecture or supposition rather than proven fact
presumptive
vssupposititious
31 7.3

Likely to be true because of evidence, not certain

is more purely conjectural and lacks the reasonable evidence implied here
speculative
vssupposititious
26 6.7

Based on guesses rather than facts

is rooted in mere supposition rather than in investigation or facts
putative
vssupposititious
  • Formal
11 7.9

Thought by many to be true but not proved

is founded on direct supposition rather than general reputation
conjectural
vssupposititious
2 8.2

Made as a guess when there is little evidence

is based on supposition rather than on proven or established facts
presumable
vssupposititious
1 4.8

Likely to be true based on the facts

is more speculative, relying on supposition rather than reasonable inference
suppositional
vssupposititious
9.3

Based on an idea rather than on solid proof

is similarly based primarily on supposition rather than proven facts
suppositious
vssupposititious
9.9

Not supported by facts

is likewise grounded in supposition rather than on established facts
divinatory
vssupposititious
9.9

Based on guessing rather than on good evidence

is based on supposition rather than on proven or established facts
hypothetic
vssupposititious
8.3

An idea people use as a guess for testing or discussion

is grounded in general supposition rather than proved evidence
supposed
vssupposititious
3.7

Thought to be true but often doubted

is specifically based on conjecture rather than on established facts

Antonyms

1 3.2

Shown by facts to be true and to work well

Known and accepted because it has existed for a long time

How Certain

supposititious
9.9
unproven
28 4.9
conjectural
2 8.2

Surface Forms

supposititious positive

Etymology

Supposititious comes from the old Latin verb supponere, made of sub- 'under' and ponere 'to put', and it shares the same root as suppose. So, to call an idea supposititious is to say it is 'put under' as a guess or assumption rather than based on real facts.