worst hypothesis

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worst hypothesis" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a theory or assumption that is considered the least favorable or most unlikely among various options. Example: "After analyzing the data, we concluded that the worst hypothesis was the one suggesting no correlation between the variables."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

After you ride the subway, without getting stuck, you successfully disprove your worst hypothesis.

Huffington Post

When a better hypothesis is found, it's added to the set, while the worst hypothesis in the set is removed.

Bioinformatics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Any attempt to second-guess what ancient people would have wanted is just that: a guess at worst, a hypothesis at best.

The Guardian - Opinion

At worst, the hypothesis driving the analyses was "irresponsible," a scientific adviser to the commission wrote.

The New York Times

Taking the worst-case hypothesis (i.e. high survival in the control arm = 25%) and in order to obtain 80% power with a two-side alpha level of 5%, with a follow-up period of 2 years, 138 patients are required per arm.

BMC Cancer

Sensitivity analyses tested the robustness of the results under best- and worst-case hypotheses of distribution of the missing values.

BMJ Open

So far, investigators have not found any survivors of last week's fire, leaving them with at best educated hypotheses and at worst wild conjecture as they try to figure out what happened.

The New York Times

The "worst is over" hypothesis is a powerful strategy, but timing needs to be near perfect.

Forbes

Interestingly the combination arm performed worst of all, the hypothesis being that in the low estrogenic environment created by the AI, tamoxifen exaggerates its known partial estrogenic signal.

Breast Cancer Research

To the positivist the atom, since it could not be seen, was to be considered at best a "convenient fiction" and at worst an illegitimate ad hoc hypothesis.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The experiment used an autobiographical memory retrieval task during script-driven imagery to investigate the hypothesis that the worst moments of trauma memories in PTSD are disjointed from other autobiographical material.

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "worst hypothesis", ensure you clearly define the criteria that make it the 'worst'. This could be based on likelihood, potential negative impact, or lack of supporting evidence.

Common error

Avoid using "worst hypothesis" when you actually mean "worst-case scenario". The former refers to a specific explanation or theory, while the latter refers to the most negative possible outcome, regardless of the explanation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worst hypothesis" functions as a noun phrase where "worst" modifies the noun "hypothesis". It serves to identify a specific hypothesis considered the least desirable or most unlikely among a set of possible explanations. Ludwig AI suggests the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "worst hypothesis" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, referring to the least favorable or most unlikely explanation among several possibilities. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its usage is relatively uncommon, primarily appearing in scientific and news contexts. When employing this phrase, clarity is key: explicitly define the criteria that designate a hypothesis as the 'worst'. Related phrases like "least likely explanation" or "most pessimistic assumption" can serve as alternatives depending on the nuance you wish to convey. Be careful to avoid confusion with "worst-case scenario", which describes the most negative outcome, rather than a specific explanation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

least likely explanation

Focuses on the probability of the explanation being correct.

most unfavorable premise

Highlights the negative implications of the premise.

most pessimistic assumption

Highlights the negative outlook associated with the assumption.

most improbable assumption

Emphasizes the unlikelihood of the assumption being true.

least plausible theory

Emphasizes the lack of believability of the theory.

least credible explanation

Focuses on the lack of trustworthiness of the explanation.

direst prediction

Focuses on the extremely negative outcome predicted.

untenable hypothesis

Implies that the hypothesis cannot be defended or maintained.

worst possible outcome

Focuses on the result rather than the initial assumption or theory.

worst case scenario

Shifts the focus to the overall situation rather than a specific explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "worst hypothesis" in a sentence?

You can use "worst hypothesis" when discussing the least favorable or most unlikely explanation among several possibilities. For instance: "After analyzing the data, we concluded that the "worst hypothesis" was the one suggesting no correlation between the variables".

What are some alternatives to "worst hypothesis"?

You can use alternatives like "least likely explanation", "most pessimistic assumption", or "least plausible theory" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "worst hypothesis" or "worst-case scenario"?

The better choice depends on the context. "Worst hypothesis" refers to the least probable or most problematic explanation for something, while "worst-case scenario" refers to the most negative possible outcome. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects what you're describing.

What is the difference between "bad hypothesis" and "worst hypothesis"?

"Bad hypothesis" suggests that the hypothesis is flawed or poorly constructed. "Worst hypothesis" implies that it's the least desirable or likely among a set of potential explanations. The "worst hypothesis" is not necessarily bad in design, but rather the least palatable or probable.