guesswork

noun

Definition of guessworknext
as in speculation
the act or process of finding an answer by guessing This book takes the guesswork out of buying a home. Calculating the drug's long-term effects is pure guesswork.

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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 guesswork That level of integration removes much of the guesswork that traditionally accompanies resin printing. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026 This matching travel set takes all the guesswork out of planning your travel day outfits. — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026 To take out the guesswork, both Funk and Vater recommend checking the soil regularly and watering when the top inch feels dry. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 13 Aug. 2026 Magic Capture takes the guesswork out of when to press the shutter button. — ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for guesswork
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guesswork
  1. speculation
  2. inference
  3. conjecture
  4. theory
Noun
  • The development provokes a leadership shake-up on both committees, prompting speculation on who will fill the spots when the next Congress opens in January.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Some smartphone makers have been offering foldable phones for the better part of a decade, but Apple has now joined the fray with the iPhone Duo after years of speculation.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of speculation
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
  • That conjecture could be broken down into two separate problems.
    — Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The American public distrusts its legal institutions and media outlets, creating a vacuum in which wild conjecture can bloom.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of conjecture
Noun
  • Such theories were substantiated less than half an hour into his debut against Arsenal.
    — Aston Villa, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Kirby applied his theory most prominently in June 2021, when United placed the largest aircraft order in its history, even as its passenger numbers remained far below pre-pandemic levels.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of theory

Browse Nearby Words

guesstimating
guesswork
guest
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Cite this Entry

“Guesswork.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guesswork. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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