second-guess

verb

sec·​ond-guess ˌse-kᵊŋ-ˈges 

-kən(d)-

second-guessed; second-guessing; second-guesses

transitive verb

1

: to criticize or question actions or decisions of (someone) often after the results of those actions or decisions are known

… meet almost every morning and, over coffee, second-guess the local coach.

—Bruce Newman

also : to engage in such criticism of (an action or decision)

second-guess the general's strategy

2

: to seek to anticipate or predict

… lived royally by his ability to second-guess the stock market.

—Time

second-guesser noun

Examples of second-guess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There aren’t many people who can second-guess what the audience might like and then record accordingly. —Devon Ivie, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025

It should be praised and encouraged, not second-guessed or stifled. —Will Dunham, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2025

This has created a valuable and potentially powerful industry, but also one rampant with skepticism, as even correct results can risk becoming second-guessed. —William Jones, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025

For the holidays, Thomas is noticing shoppers second-guessing and skipping some of the extras — just one more stocking stuffer or a little treat as a self-gift — that people might have dropped into their baskets without much thought during the late-pandemic shopping sprees. —Alina Selyukh, NPR, 28 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

second-guess

verb

sec·​ond-guess

ˌsek-ᵊŋ-ˈges, 

-ən-

1

: to question or criticize actions or decisions of (someone) often after the results of those actions or decisions are known

2

: predict

second-guesser noun