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

The system and its capabilities also force adversaries to second-guess radar data, which is potentially crippling to situational awareness in a conflict. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 12 Oct. 2025

But these specific second-guess specials will be on the field coaching and playing the Dolphins on Sunday, and their performance will likely be a constant reminder that South Florida’s NFL franchise likely won’t exit the mediocrity merry-go-round until better decision-makers are put in place. —Omar Kelly october 10, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025

Gen Z have been second-guessing their choice to go to college for years. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025

And still, that moment left me second-guessing everything. —Rochelle Ratkaj, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 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