as in speculation
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1
as in assuming
to form an opinion from little or no evidence
though she does not speak with an accent, I would still guess that she is a foreigner
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in estimating
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement
I would guess the road goes for about two miles before you have to take a left
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in thinking
to have as an opinion
I never would have guessed that she was capable of such a terrible thing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of guessing
Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 4 Jan. 2026
But the moon is the rare topic about which there is no guessing.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
The guessing game as to who could succeed Dario Vitale at Versace may be over soon.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 17 Dec. 2025
As 2025 comes to an end, Stephens is saying goodbye to uncertainty and second-guessing.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 2025
The goal is to avoid deals that might irritate a future owner, spark second-guessing, or require long-term bets.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 9 Dec. 2025
The celeb-guessing is irrelevant compared to the insane tableau vivant the extras perform.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
There isn’t any guessing or pretending, just a real, wholesome connection.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
The latest movie on my yuletide film agenda, A Merry Little Ex-Mas, stars Alicia Silverstone as an embittered ex who—I’m guessing—gets some semblance of her groove back.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 14 Nov. 2025
Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 5 Nov. 2025
The end result — essentially the hottest FaceTime ever — leaves viewers guessing who will be next to pick up the phone.
—Ana Calderone, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
Starting pitchers have to face the same batters two or three times, forming a game plan to keep hitters guessing and then executing it.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Heidi Klum kept fans guessing all day with hints about her 2025 Halloween costume.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Nov. 2025
The team found that participants chose correctly 53 percent of the time—close to guessing—though when they were presented with stylistically similar human and AI songs, their accuracy reached 66 percent.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2025
There’s Sarah, the determined novice; there’s Zoë, the irreverent, acerbic detective; there’s Joe, the romantic who tries to impress Sarah by guessing things about her from looking at her hands.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Yamamoto kept them guessing at fastballs registered in the upper 90s, sliders in the 80s and curveballs dipping into the 70s.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Gilligan wants to keep viewers guessing, and this trailer definitely hits that mark.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
Arkansas Coach John Calipari played a guessing game with members of the media when talking about that aspect of the win.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 4 Jan. 2026
But the moon is the rare topic about which there is no guessing.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
The guessing game as to who could succeed Dario Vitale at Versace may be over soon.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 17 Dec. 2025
As 2025 comes to an end, Stephens is saying goodbye to uncertainty and second-guessing.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 2025
The goal is to avoid deals that might irritate a future owner, spark second-guessing, or require long-term bets.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 9 Dec. 2025
The celeb-guessing is irrelevant compared to the insane tableau vivant the extras perform.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2025
There isn’t any guessing or pretending, just a real, wholesome connection.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
The latest movie on my yuletide film agenda, A Merry Little Ex-Mas, stars Alicia Silverstone as an embittered ex who—I’m guessing—gets some semblance of her groove back.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 14 Nov. 2025
Verb
The 28-year-old didn’t leave commenters guessing too long.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 5 Nov. 2025
The end result — essentially the hottest FaceTime ever — leaves viewers guessing who will be next to pick up the phone.
—Ana Calderone, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
Starting pitchers have to face the same batters two or three times, forming a game plan to keep hitters guessing and then executing it.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Heidi Klum kept fans guessing all day with hints about her 2025 Halloween costume.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Nov. 2025
The team found that participants chose correctly 53 percent of the time—close to guessing—though when they were presented with stylistically similar human and AI songs, their accuracy reached 66 percent.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2025
There’s Sarah, the determined novice; there’s Zoë, the irreverent, acerbic detective; there’s Joe, the romantic who tries to impress Sarah by guessing things about her from looking at her hands.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Yamamoto kept them guessing at fastballs registered in the upper 90s, sliders in the 80s and curveballs dipping into the 70s.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Gilligan wants to keep viewers guessing, and this trailer definitely hits that mark.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guessing
Noun
-
Like most fiction, it’s made up of experiences, imagination, ideas, memories, emotions, speculation, knowledge and research.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Rumors of their split began swirling in late June, and speculation grew when Bloom arrived in Venice for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánches Bezos' wedding without Perry.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In estimating that online sales would result in overall annual profits of about $30-90 million, the Legislative Services Agency is assuming there would be an accompanying decrease in retail lottery sales.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Launching a military operation and then assuming responsibility for governance shifts Washington toward a closed, coercive model of power – one that relies on force to establish authority and is prohibitively costly to sustain over time.—
Monica Duffy Toft,
The Conversation,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In a review of scientific literature, one study found that those with the condition were more likely to suffer from diabetes and cardiovascular disease than controls, estimating that 30-74% of people with AD also have hypertension, 6-24% have diabetes, and 3-14% suffer from stroke.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Nov. 2025
-
As Gen Z continues to grow its presence in the workforce, with projections estimating their numbers will triple to 51 million by 2030, their leadership preferences are beginning to shape the future of work.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Typing becomes editing, not thinking.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
And not thinking there were going to be a point of anything.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Those are, indeed, pat, credible theories and predictions.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
-
But now, in the planet’s capital city of Apperax, a murder is committed with no suspects, forensics or theories.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The comments on the video flooded with reactions to the spooky moment, with many suspecting her home might be haunted.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
-
After initially suspecting a bullet or debris flicked up by a truck, the police ruled out both.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Continue roasting, figuring about 15 minutes per pound.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
19 Dec. 2025
-
As soon as he's been figuring everything out, he's been texting the QB room.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The movie follows the irrepressible leader, who espoused gender and social equality while believing herself to be the female incarnation of Christ.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Some people even swam across the mile-wide river, or walked across its ice in winter, believing that freedom and opportunity awaited them on the other side.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Guessing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guessing. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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