second-guess

verb

sec·​ond-guess ˌse-kᵊŋ-ˈges How to pronounce second-guess (audio)
-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 coachBruce 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 marketTime
second-guesser noun

Examples of second-guess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Listening to our instincts and not second-guessing ourselves will allow information to reveal itself in time. Lisa Stardust, refinery29.com, 2 July 2025 No disciplinary actions were ever taken against Crafton, but Schleicher said Keller city officials eventually prohibited her from writing code enforcement citations and second-guessed her decisions. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2025 One can, likewise, reasonably second-guess the seemingly reactive approach in which the club seemed primarily focused on drafting centre depth, which is rather conveniently their biggest need at the NHL level. Thomas Drance, New York Times, 29 June 2025 The story is halting, its end inevitable; it’s also couched in self-doubt, second-guessing, disbelief. Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for second-guess

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of second-guess was in 1941

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Second-guess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-guess. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

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
second-guesser noun

More from Merriam-Webster on second-guess

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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