as in guess
an opinion or judgment based on little or no evidence
the many conjectures about the true identity of Jack the Ripper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to estimate
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement
he conjectured that the theater could seat 1000 people more or less
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to guess
to form an opinion from little or no evidence
you're only conjecturing that he was the culprit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of conjecture
Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Network executives emphasized that unless Woods or his team publicly address his situation, broadcasters will avoid discussing unconfirmed details or engaging in conjecture.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
The moment prompted extensive online speculation, with some social media users and commentators conjecturing that his words may have been critical or disrespectful.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conjecture
Noun
At the same time, money market account interest rates are variable, so some conjecture will be required when trying to calculate the interest-earning capacity of an $80,000 deposit.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Network executives emphasized that unless Woods or his team publicly address his situation, broadcasters will avoid discussing unconfirmed details or engaging in conjecture.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
Some task force workers conjectured that the ease of use and convenience of a prepackaged device might prompt more folks to test their drugs, especially those who are younger.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
The moment prompted extensive online speculation, with some social media users and commentators conjecturing that his words may have been critical or disrespectful.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conjecture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conjecture
Noun
-
Few would hazard a guess at what the world of technology will look like when VivaTech celebrates its 20th birthday.—
Kamal Ahmed,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
-
There was letter-sound bingo, guess-the-sound flashcards and even a visit from a special spelling helper — a toy owl, named Echo, who lives at the end of a yardstick.—
Cory Turner,
NPR,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Historians estimate that about 52% of Revolutionary-era Williamsburg was Black.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
Morgan Stanley estimated that spending on AI infrastructure could exceed $3 trillion in the next two years.—
Stephanie Yang,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Scott, the attorney, also said Thursday that Williamson assumed, based on her conversations with McCluskie, that McCluskie had spoken to Becerra about the concept of the money transfer.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
Recommended Stories That’s assuming there’s actually enough of it accessible on the moon to be profitably extracted.—
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
But with the arrival of the next course, bread and butter, I was forced to revise my theory.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
-
The landfill theory made some birding enthusiasts uneasy and prompted some authorities, locals and others to defend Ushuaia, a city of nearly 85,000 that draws tourists to its Antarctic cruise ships and abundant, watchworthy bird population.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Hannah Neeleman and her husband, Daniel, look like average beaming newlyweds, young parents fake-posing with margaritas and figuring things out.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
-
If anything, the long-time executive knows that pending roster crunches often figure themselves out.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The event was supposed to run through the weekend with live music, art and food at Marina Green Park.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2026
-
We’re supposed to stand for something.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The researchers calculated that cement made from silicate rocks could require less than 60 percent of the energy needed to process limestone while cutting associated carbon dioxide emissions by more than 80 percent.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
-
These numbers are used to calculate your biological age, and to inform what kind of exercise and nutrition changes might help improve any markers that are out of range.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Police are searching for a straphanger suspected of unbolting a door switch from a inside a downtown C train Monday evening, snipping the wires and then absconding with the train part, sources tell the Daily News.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
The 84-year-old is suspected to have been abducted from her bedroom in the early morning hours.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conjecture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conjecture. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
