1
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
it's rather presuming of you to expect to be our first choice for the award
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in familiar
showing a lack of proper social reserve or modesty
I thought it presuming of him to think that we would invite him along
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in busy
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited
some presuming waiter thought that it was his business to tell the expectant mother that she shouldn't be having even one glass of wine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in assuming
to form an opinion from little or no evidence
I presume you'll fly if you do go
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in saying
to take as true or as a fact without actual proof
we should presume that a person is innocent until proven guilty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 presuming
Laura K. Field, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
The letter was apparently unconvincing, and the search began again, with detectives presuming suicide.
—Emily Krauser, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
People familiar with the respective positions say a hearing is all but inevitable, presuming Skubal remains with the Tigers.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Crumb defended the work as criticism of those stereotypes, presuming that people familiar with his art would get the point.
—David Zane Mairowitz, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2025
Nicholas Boggs spent decades researching this thoughtful and well-paced biography, consulting archival material and even interviewing, after presuming him dead, a crucial surviving player in Baldwin’s life story.
—Lucy Feldman, Time, 9 Dec. 2025
That’s presuming a bank would not require a higher interest rate on a 50-year mortgage, due to the longer duration of the loan.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2025
Its modest following often dismissed those posts as fakes, presuming the quartet staged spooky stuff for clicks.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Storage and safe transport back to Earth, presuming governments and markets decide that bringing helium-3 home is economical, adds further complexity.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
The risk is in presuming that anything subversive or sensational is also true and meaningful, and that anything conventional is a lie that must be smashed down.
—Laura K. Field, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
The letter was apparently unconvincing, and the search began again, with detectives presuming suicide.
—Emily Krauser, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
People familiar with the respective positions say a hearing is all but inevitable, presuming Skubal remains with the Tigers.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Crumb defended the work as criticism of those stereotypes, presuming that people familiar with his art would get the point.
—David Zane Mairowitz, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2025
Nicholas Boggs spent decades researching this thoughtful and well-paced biography, consulting archival material and even interviewing, after presuming him dead, a crucial surviving player in Baldwin’s life story.
—Lucy Feldman, Time, 9 Dec. 2025
That’s presuming a bank would not require a higher interest rate on a 50-year mortgage, due to the longer duration of the loan.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2025
Its modest following often dismissed those posts as fakes, presuming the quartet staged spooky stuff for clicks.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Storage and safe transport back to Earth, presuming governments and markets decide that bringing helium-3 home is economical, adds further complexity.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presuming
Adjective
-
This is an organization that can be frustratingly set in its ways and arrogant in its belief that there’s no better way.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Planning for more than 11 contests out of Dobbins, something only produced twice over his first six NFL seasons, isn’t just arrogant.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s a familiar rhetorical pattern to retirement announcements by most members of Congress.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Veo would take over that month, offering the familiar standing scooters now used, along with seated scooters, two-person scooters, cargo bikes and trikes.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Jet fuel prices are rising as the war in the Middle East disrupts global oil supplies, putting cost pressure on airlines as the busy summer travel season approaches.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Ask the staff for a quieter room that ideally doesn’t face the main road; typical of the city, Admiralty Way is constantly busy, and in the rainy season heavy thunderstorms can be enough to wake one out of sleep—light sleepers will do well to pick a room that’s more internal.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The bottom line Savers can earn between $50 and $150 with a $5,000 deposit made into a money market or high-yield savings account in 2026, starting this month, assuming interest rates here remain steady.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Ashley said among misperceptions people have is assuming adult children living with them can no longer be claimed as dependents.—
Francine Knowles,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That’s despite analysts saying that spiraling oil prices due to Persian Gulf production blockages are benefiting the Russian economy.—
Rebecca Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
-
No one on the board is saying the First District should not get the funds.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The 49ers’ entertaining postseason run came to an end against a superior team, as the Bulls dominated the pace of play and rolled to the conference championship.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Iran's response would not defeat a superior military force head-on, but would make operating in the Gulf painful and expensive.—
Imtiaz Tyab,
CBS News,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Over Your Dead Body is not for the faint of heart, but give or take a rape threat that crosses the line into smug sadism without quite seeming to realize it, the violence lands as more comically cartoonish than horrific.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The ceremony has remained a smug political distraction ever since.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But here’s guessing that no one will call it Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Behind the polished facade of the Winchester home lies a web of shocking twists that keeps audiences guessing until the very end.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Presuming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presuming. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
