deduction

noun

di-ˈdək-shən How to pronounce deduction (audio)
Definition of deductionnext
1
as in reduction
something that is or may be subtracted contestants get a deduction from their scores for every incorrect guess

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in subtraction
the act or an instance of taking away from a total the deduction of the amount awarded to the plaintiff in order to pay the legal fees

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3
as in inference
an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning his impressive deduction of the correct answer from only a few hints

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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 deduction Sami claimed deductions totaling about $98,000 over three years as charitable and marketing expenses. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Last year, Congress passed a bipartisan update to the tax code that included a new non-itemizer charitable deduction. — Dale Bannon, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Conventional underwriting starts with two years of tax returns and works from the bottom line, the net income figure that remains after every legal deduction. — Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026 Millionaires may contribute and then take deductions for charitable contributions. — Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deduction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deduction
  1. reduction
  2. subtraction
  3. inference
  4. discount
  5. determination
  6. conclusion
Noun
  • Budget static-cling options will not hit those numbers, but even a modest reduction helps when your AC is already working overtime.
    — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Parts and designs were standardized for the Phase II plants, which are 50 MW and on track for a more than 30% reduction in construction time.
    — Pippa Stevens, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of reduction
Noun
  • On the subtraction side, New York parted ways with several depth pieces across the front seven and secondary while re-shaping the wide receiver room to prioritize fast, versatile weapons.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Do the subtraction, and roughly $17,350 of that car actually belongs to you.
    — Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of subtraction
Noun
  • By 2030, inference will make up half of all AI compute and 30% to 40% of total data center demand, according to McKinsey.
    — Isabel O'Brien,Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The efficiency of the underlying hardware suddenly matters more, as does where inference takes place.
    — Tiffany Chang, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of inference
Noun
  • And by Norwegian’s own account, the Studio Lounge is reserved for guests in Solo Studios – so the fleetwide solo categories come with the discount but not the room full of other solo travelers.
    — Peter McGraw, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Get it now for $179, which is a 28% discount, and rise up the ranks.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of discount
Noun
  • Her passion, determination and single-minded focus had completed the deal.
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The allegations build on an April 2025 US determination that Sudan’s government used chemical weapons in 2024, though officials provided little public evidence at the time.
    — Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of determination
Noun
  • That didn’t stop more controversy from falling on the conference’s doorstep Saturday night, when one more play produced a conclusion that will likely be talked about for decades.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • That’s the conclusion the two seem to have come to, especially after the fireman Rosie has her current hopes pinned on asks her out to a fancy dinner date, only to stand her up.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of conclusion

Browse Nearby Words

deducting
deduction
deductions
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Cite this Entry

“Deduction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deduction. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deduction

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about deduction

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