The best replacement for hypothesis is theory.

The best alternatives to hypothesis are rated as following:
★★★★★  theory
★★★★  prediction
★★★  research question
★★  null hypothesis
★★  thesis
★★  hypotheses
★  alternative hypothesis
★  hypothesis
★  problem statement
★  inference
  conjecture
  question
  assumption
  research questions
  assumptions
  conclusion
  theories
  postulate
  proposition
  aim
  statistical hypothesis
  collect data
  denying the conclusion
  scientific theory
  research hypothesis
  guess
  statement of the problem
  aim first
  an hypothesis
  alternative
  theory first
  sensitive period
  estimation
  theory example
  observation

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Speaking about hypothesis, one probably shouldn't forget about conclusion.

Other search terms related to hypothesis and their ratings are:
★★★★★ conclusion
★★★ experiment
★★ theory
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