Which one of the two is the stronger base: methoxide ion or hydroxide ion? If we consider the experimentally determined pka values, it looks like hydroxide ion should be the right answer but in many books it has been mentioned that all alcohols are less acidic than water implying that all alkoxide ions are stronger bases than hydroxide ion. This has created a lot of confusion.
We have $\ce{MeO-}$ and $\ce{HO-}$
$\ce{-CH3}$ has a +I effect. Therefore it destabilizes the methoxide ion. $\ce{-H}$ has a comparatively lesser +I
This leads to the conclusion that $\ce{OH-}$ is more acidic than $\ce{CH3O-}$.
This seems like a valid argument, but the order varies in gaseous/aqueous phases, because we consider polarizabilty and solvation effect, rather than inductive effect there