theorize vs explicate

theorize and explicate both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
theorize	No	No	Yes	No
explicate	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, explicate is a hyponym of theorize; that is, explicate is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than theorize:

Other hyponyms of theorize include construct, reconstruct, retrace, develop, formulate.

theorize (verb)	explicate (verb)
to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds	make plain and comprehensible
form or construct theories	elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses
construct a theory about