as in guesses
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 estimates
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 assumes
to form an opinion from little or no evidence
you're only conjecturing that he was the culprit
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of conjectures
Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 12 Dec. 2025
With few clear signals about who has influence and how decisions are made, the halls of power in Beijing are fertile ground for political conjectures.
—Deng Yuwen, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
This is an intense ongoing study and there are many conjectures.
—Literary Hub, 14 Nov. 2025
Amenabar seems to root his screenplay on conjectures about the writer’s sexuality, which many scholars consider latterday projection.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
There’s no end to conjectures about William Shakespeare’s life because there isn’t all that much definitive Shakespeareana to rake over.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
For one thing, Kontsevich is known for taking a high-level approach to mathematics, preferring to pose ambitious conjectures and sketch out broad programs, often leaving the subtler details and formal proof-writing to others.
—Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 12 Dec. 2025
With few clear signals about who has influence and how decisions are made, the halls of power in Beijing are fertile ground for political conjectures.
—Deng Yuwen, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
This is an intense ongoing study and there are many conjectures.
—Literary Hub, 14 Nov. 2025
Amenabar seems to root his screenplay on conjectures about the writer’s sexuality, which many scholars consider latterday projection.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
Leaving the hard numbers aside, conjectures about the effects of AI on individual companies are exactly that — conjectures.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
There’s no end to conjectures about William Shakespeare’s life because there isn’t all that much definitive Shakespeareana to rake over.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conjectures
Noun
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In any close bond, clear words help both sides understand needs and reduce defensive guesses, especially when choices feel time-sensitive.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Traders poured in nearly $2 million taking guesses.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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If a similar result happens from the work requirements, that would mean 236,000 to 347,000 expansion adults losing coverage by 2034 based on how large the Congressional Budget Office estimates the population will be that year, estimates Hoosier Action.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
6 Mar. 2026
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The government estimates that it's collected some $166 billion from more than 330,000 businesses in tariffs that the Supreme Court has now found unconstitutional.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That measurement also assumes the buyer has a 20% down payment, which in this case would be $80,060.—
Sarah Agostino,
CNBC,
7 Mar. 2026
-
That assumes everything lines up next offseason.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The latest research also provides strong evidence supporting long-standing theories of the Moon’s geological evolution, including the existence of an early global magma ocean that cooled unevenly, leaving distinct crust-mantle and chemical differences between the near and far sides.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Mar. 2026
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There are some 29 competing theories of consciousness.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 49ers’ receiving corps, meanwhile, has lost Kendrick Bourne (Cardinals) and Skyy Moore (Packers) in free agency, while Jauan Jennings also tests the market, and Brandon Aiyuk figures to be released after going MIA last season.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
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Yoán Moncada figures to be the starter at third, but he’s been injured often.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Leo’s fine, one supposes, as evil plantation owner Calvin Candie, but the role is not a natural fit for him.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
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The first theory supposes that the Big Bang produced dense spots that didn’t collapse immediately.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Xeneta’s congestion ratio calculates the number of ships waiting to call at the port divided by the total number of vessels already docked.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Mar. 2026
-
That measurement calculates the angle from where the avalanche started to where the runout ends.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conjectures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conjectures. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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