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

Trader Joe’s joins the growing list of companies recalling products this year, giving customers another reason to second-guess their grocery lists. —Moná Thomas, People.com, 2 May 2025

But the government argued that judges shouldn’t second-guess agents doing their jobs. —Bart Jansen, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025

Supreme Court divided over Obamacare mandate for no-cost preventive health benefits A Trump administration attorney insisted officers exercising discretion in performance of their duties should not be subjected to lawsuits and second-guessed by courts. —Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2025

The government also said the search was within the agency's official duties and the Court should not second-guess law enforcement decisions. —Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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