outguess

verb

Definition of outguessnext
as in to outsmart

Related Words

Relevance

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 outguess No one knows for sure, and older investors are often better served by accepting that uncertainty rather than trying to outguess it. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026 With the right guardrails in place, investors don't have to outguess the market. — Chris Stevens, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Oct. 2025 The Fed and the Markets both appear to be trying to outguess each other. — George Calhoun, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outguess
  1. outsmart
  2. outwit
  3. outmaneuver
  4. outthink
  5. outfox
  6. thwart
  7. second-guess
Verb
  • In his younger days, Presnell seemed to enjoy outsmarting people.
    — Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The incident has been viewed as a warning sign for how AI models are learning to outsmart their human creators.
    — Elizabeth Schulze, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of outsmart
Verb
  • The show, which comes from Brent Montgomery’s Wheelhouse, brings together a group of strangers, in this case celebrity contestants, who must outwit their competition and identify the recipient of a million dollars hiding among them.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026
  • All season long, Ray and Sugar have been trying to outwit each other.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
Definition of outwit
Verb
  • The original 1960s cars had legendary status dominating the Monte Carlo Rally, outmaneuvering heavier machinery across icy mountain passes with lightweight agility rather than brute off-road hardware.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026
  • And Michael and Olivia don’t exactly outmaneuver their opponents.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of outmaneuver
Verb
  • Some of the game’s biggest stars have already voiced frustration over trying to outthink the robots.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Digital computers may eventually outthink us, but that will remain all action without experience.
    — Shai Tubali, Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of outthink
Verb
  • Across two seasons packed with twisty machinations, Jung’s virtuous prosecutor Jang Geon-young attempted to pin down Hyun’s shamelessly corrupt — but effortlessly cool — intelligence officer Baek Ki-tae, only to be outfoxed at every turn.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Gauff dug in, matched Badosa’s power, and outfoxed her when the opportunities arose.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of outfox
Verb
  • On the next play, Bolden sacked Russell and thwarted the Crimson Tide’s chances of kicking a game-tying field goal.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Officials spotted the ball 1 1/2 yards from the goal line and UCLA’s defense smothered rusher Jordon Davison to thwart the Ducks' second chance.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of thwart
Verb
  • In response to that case, a biotech CEO recently warned in these pages that letting courts and politicians second-guess the FDA’s scientific judgment endangers the whole drug pipeline.
    — Julie F. Kay, STAT, 25 Sep. 2026
  • One aspect of Lamont’s energy policy that Fazio declined to second-guess was the decision to sign a deal with Millstone, which was opposed by some Republicans at the time.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of second-guess

Browse Nearby Words

outgrowths
outguess
outguessed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outguess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outguess. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of deportment

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All