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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of guessing
Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
In unscripted news, ITV Studios unveiled a slate of sales and catalog moves, led by a Spanish adaptation of murder-mystery guessing game A Party to Die For at Atresmedia, produced by ITV Studios Iberia for a 2026 launch.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2025
Harris will still have second-guessing haunt him throughout the offseason for this season.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
So let the guessing begin on just whom Missy Elliott, Brandi Carlile, Killer Mike, Teddy Swims and the other guests have been matched up with from the inductees’ list.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025
Best Amazon Outlet Deals on Matching Lounge Sets Matching lounge sets take out the guessing of pairing an outfit together.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025
Launched as an event program in Japan and Korea, 100 sees teams of amateur and celebrity performers seek to make combined ages of exactly 100, and score a perfect 100 from the audience and panel during a comedy musical guessing game.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
Take the time to label their tops so there’s no guessing which is the garlic and which is ginger.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2025
The Cowboys have no regrets or second-guessing about using Lamb on those plays.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 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
Not only did the franchise quarterback throw a season-high four touchdowns, the run game’s effectiveness helped keep the defense guessing.
—Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
In unscripted news, ITV Studios unveiled a slate of sales and catalog moves, led by a Spanish adaptation of murder-mystery guessing game A Party to Die For at Atresmedia, produced by ITV Studios Iberia for a 2026 launch.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2025
Harris will still have second-guessing haunt him throughout the offseason for this season.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
So let the guessing begin on just whom Missy Elliott, Brandi Carlile, Killer Mike, Teddy Swims and the other guests have been matched up with from the inductees’ list.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025
Best Amazon Outlet Deals on Matching Lounge Sets Matching lounge sets take out the guessing of pairing an outfit together.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025
Launched as an event program in Japan and Korea, 100 sees teams of amateur and celebrity performers seek to make combined ages of exactly 100, and score a perfect 100 from the audience and panel during a comedy musical guessing game.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
Take the time to label their tops so there’s no guessing which is the garlic and which is ginger.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2025
The Cowboys have no regrets or second-guessing about using Lamb on those plays.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 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
-
Once the video featuring Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s kids was shared online, the speculation about the kids would quadruple.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
2 Nov. 2025
-
There has been so much analysis and speculation about the young quarterback during his absence.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
With Kevin Gausman, José Berríos (assuming elbow health) and Trey Yesavage pencilled into starting spots next year, the Jays have at least two holes to fill.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Without context, you’d be forgiven for assuming that the Elena in question was not another author’s creation, but Messud’s own.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The next few years led to a major bounce in Halloween’s popularity, with Ben Cooper estimating that overall costume sales tripled.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Since then, the list of automakers offering CarPlay has only grown, with Apple estimating more than 800 vehicles are compatible.—
Liam Rappleye,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 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
-
The special explores theories about why the thieves targeted specific displays, who orchestrated this brazen operation and which fatal flaws in their plan ultimately led to their capture.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The showgirl theory also holds in that fashion diapers seem to have taken off almost only among celebrities.—
Julie Beck,
The Atlantic,
5 Nov. 2025
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
-
Though the Raptors must develop players behind and in support of their stars, this version of the team doesn’t work without those stars figuring this out.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Two returnees figuring prominently in the rotation are juniors Aidan Burke (a 6-3 guard) and Cade Pendleton (a 6-10 forward).—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 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 9 Nov. 2025.
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