HUNCH Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

hunch 1 of 2

verb

ˈhənch

Definition of hunch

as in to crouch

to lie low with the limbs close to the body he hunched next to a bush to avoid being seen

Synonyms & Similar Words

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hunch

2 of 2

noun

as in theory

Related Words

as in hump

Related Words

as in idea

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 hunch

Verb

Once, when his unit came under heavy fire, a soldier running for cover caught a glimpse of Salinger hunched under a table, clacking away like a frenzied newsman on deadline. — Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026 Songs were deconstructed and reconstructed each night as the pair hunched over their blinking arrays. — Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 8 Aug. 2026

Noun

Given that Mitchell filed his lawsuit in Kentucky, the widespread hunch was that UK would be his choice. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026 Jimmy Kimmel's hunch helps with final question The last question posed the biggest challenge for Ding, but thankfully Kimmel had an inkling about turkeys that hadn’t received presidential pardons. — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hunch

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hunch

Verb

As Kimbrel got set to face Marlins first baseman Kyle Stowers, the right-hander crouched near the mound as liquid spewed from his mouth before the broadcast camera cut away.

— Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Like ballplayers just before the pitch, animal control crouched into position, with thick metal grabbers, nooses, and nets at the ready.

— Zachary Przystup, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of crouch

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

Noun

Campbell’s charge, then, was to get the Nittany Lions over the Mount Nittany-sized hump that squandered every season.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
On Laurel Street, a short residential thoroughfare, speeds fell from between 25 to 30 mph to less than 20 mph after speed humps were added.

— Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of hump

Noun

The new experiment tested those competing ideas by deliberately weakening the electron interactions.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
But the head of Germany’s central bank, who is also a member of the European Central Bank Governing Council, said Melenchon’s debt cancelation idea would be forbidden under the currency bloc’s rules and could lead to hyperinflation.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of idea

Verb

Co-stars Sofia Boutella, Bill Pullman and Daniel Zovatto also huddled warmly with the director.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026
Thirty minutes before the preseason finale, and before leaving the field from pregame warmups for the final time as a 19-man band, the Falcons’ defensive backs huddled and brought their fists together on the Hard Rock Stadium sideline.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of huddle

Noun

When a trial will take place – or whether a trial will take place – is anybody’s guess.

— Mike Kelly, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Each virtual cube contained a list of numbers called a vector with its memory and a guess about object category, both of which can evolve over time.

— Matthew Hutson, Scientific American, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of guess

Noun

Not to mention, the Seahawks left plenty of room for growth, whether that’s cleaning up pre-snap penalties or being more explosive as an offense.

— Andrew Destin, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
But even in Biden’s last two years — 2023 and 2024 — job growth averaged 166,000 a month.

— Melissa Goldin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of growth

Noun

As for whether there are actual strategic reasons for his dominance in Armstrong, Tiafoe dismissed the notion.

— Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Only truly sophisticated taste, in this code, grasps the superiority of deprivation over the more ethnic notions of actual comfort and good food.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of notion

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Style

“Hunch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hunch. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of hunch

verb

noun

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