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
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Recent Examples of presuming
Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Even more hilariously, 54 percent of Democrats went as far as presuming that even an 8-year-old boy could throw down his lunchbox and get the job done.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
Think about more positive interpretations before presuming someone is insulting you.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2026
Later, when Shell expressed appreciation, Cipriani pitched Star Serenade, initially over the phone — presuming the executive would, at the least, boost its chance for an inside track at a green light.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026
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
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
Verb
There is an assumption of arrogance, of high expectations, of going into every major tournament presuming their team will win it.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Even more hilariously, 54 percent of Democrats went as far as presuming that even an 8-year-old boy could throw down his lunchbox and get the job done.
—Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
Think about more positive interpretations before presuming someone is insulting you.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2026
Later, when Shell expressed appreciation, Cipriani pitched Star Serenade, initially over the phone — presuming the executive would, at the least, boost its chance for an inside track at a green light.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for presuming
Adjective
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The two roles underline the actor’s formidable versatility, all skittish panic in the former and arrogant sociopathy in the other.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 June 2026
-
Washington State’s beauty is almost arrogant in its expansiveness.—
C Pam Zhang,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
She is expected to appear Monday through Wednesday of next week, according to two people familiar with the matter.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
11 June 2026
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The research is clear that a familiar, gentle fragrance can slow breathing, soften stress and turn a room into a memory.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
These would be my nap companions, a busy hive of bees whose entrance was out the side of the cottage.—
Christine Sarkis,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
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While guests can still order from their full beer menu, KC Bier said guests should expect a limited menu of food for matches during the brewery’s busiest hours, like on weekends.—
Katelyn Umholtz,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Liability insurance costs also rise dramatically — assuming coverage can be obtained in a state facing a severe insurance crisis — further reducing funds available for essential services.—
Kim Gorsuch,
Sun Sentinel,
16 June 2026
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That works out to roughly four reusable water bottles per day for men and about three for women, assuming bottles are in the standard 24- to 32-ounce range.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The city manager denied that, saying the last time work was done was in January.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
-
The administration denied the request, saying accident rates for skydiving planes are lower than those for other types of private flights, a point the United States Parachute Association has emphasized repeatedly in the years since then, lobbying against stricter rules.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Musk projects that SpaceX will expand its network ten-fold to 100,000 digital birds in the years ahead, and that his superior capacity and extremely low cost ensure by far the dominant position for years to come.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
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While Folarin Balogun got the striker nod in the final tune-up against Germany, Ricardo Pepi might be the better option against Paraguay given his superior ability to drop deep and link-up play.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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Most smug articles and books that claim to provide quick fixes come off as tone-deaf or even counterproductive.—
Anna Holmes,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
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But the series’ central character, played by Rachel Weisz, has enough nervous, itchy, manic energy to make the show’s narrative structure feel purposely unstable rather than safely smug.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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This may be considered presumptuous considering the tote first appeared on the scene only in 2018, but Mary Kate and Ashley’s creation has already catapulted itself into classic status.—
Ariel Bielsky,
InStyle,
22 Feb. 2026
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Nothing at Gwyn is overly presumptuous, though; in fact, the clothing still retains a markedly Cali-cool identity, which is to say it’s rooted in minimalism.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Presuming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/presuming. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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