Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun speculation

4 senses of speculation

Sense 1
guess, conjecture, supposition, surmise, surmisal, speculation, hypothesis -- (a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence)
       => opinion, view -- (a message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof; "his opinions appeared frequently on the editorial page")

Sense 2
speculation, conjecture -- (a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence); "speculations about the outcome of the election"; "he dismissed it as mere conjecture")
       => hypothesis, possibility, theory -- (a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena; "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices")

Sense 3
speculation, venture -- (an investment that is very risky but could yield great profits; "he knew the stock was a speculation when he bought it")
       => investment, investment funds -- (money that is invested with an expectation of profit)

Sense 4
meditation, speculation -- (continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature; "the habit of meditation is the basis for all real knowledge")
       => contemplation, reflection, reflexion, rumination, musing, thoughtfulness -- (a calm, lengthy, intent consideration)