deemed; deeming; deems
: to come to think or judge : consider
deemed it wise to go slow
those whom she deemed worthy
a movie deemed appropriate for all ages
: to have an opinion : believe
Did you know?
Originally, deem meant "to legally condemn." The word is still frequently used in contexts pertaining to the law but with the general meaning "to judge" or "to decide after inquiry and deliberation," as in "The act was deemed unlawful" or "The defendant is deemed to have agreed to the contract." Outside of the law, deem usually means simply "to consider."
Examples of deem in a Sentence
The principal will take whatever action she deems appropriate in this case.
I deem it fitting that we mark this solemn occasion with a day of prayer and thanksgiving.
Recent Examples on the Web
Many civilian employees at the base who are paid using funds appropriated by Congress have been furloughed and others that are deemed mission critical are currently working without pay.
—
Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2025
Those deemed essential are required to work with zero promise of pay, either now or in the future.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
The outcome will determine whether the case proceeds to trial or if Grogan will be sent to a federal medical facility for further evaluation and treatment until deemed competent.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
And if federal regulators deem aluminum unsafe as a vaccine ingredient, vaccine makers would have to develop and test alternatives, a process that could take years.
—NPR, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deem
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2025
Those deemed essential are required to work with zero promise of pay, either now or in the future.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
The outcome will determine whether the case proceeds to trial or if Grogan will be sent to a federal medical facility for further evaluation and treatment until deemed competent.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
And if federal regulators deem aluminum unsafe as a vaccine ingredient, vaccine makers would have to develop and test alternatives, a process that could take years.
—NPR, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deem
Cite this Entry
“Deem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deem. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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