SECOND-GUESS Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

second-guess

verb

Definition of second-guess

as in to outguess

Related Words

Relevance

as in to speculate (about)

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 second-guess Summary Making major decisions is often followed by unexpected doubt, as leaders second-guess their choices. — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 The school supply aisle has a way of making parents second-guess everything. — Adrienne Farr, Parents, 15 Aug. 2026 These communications, Kroger said, led C&S to second-guess the initial agreement, creating a domino effect and prompting the Washington court to block the sale. — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026 The Republican administration argued that judges cannot second-guess immigration officials’ decisions about protections that were intended to be temporary. — Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for second-guess

Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-guess

Verb

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

Definition of outguess

Verb

For each gene, the catalogue would ideally include its technical complexity, which methods can reliably analyze it, and document when a specialized test is required.

— Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
Signals intelligence is the field of collecting, intercepting and analyzing electronic signals to support defense, communications and emergency response.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of analyze

Verb

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
But his efforts to outsmart the bond market – the deepest and most important market on the planet – have not lived up to the hype.

— Matt Egan, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of outsmart

Verb

This, the perfectly decent people of Kettleborough reasoned, was a natural and godly rebuke for Susan and Cuthbert’s sin.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Lourdes Bishop Jean-Marc Micas in 2025 decided to cover the facade of the Notre Dame du Rosaire Basilica, reasoning that abuse victims who come to Lourdes for healing shouldn’t be forced to see them.

— Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of reason

Verb

Today, scientists believe these subterranean formations could offer a reliable solution to the clean energy transition’s biggest storage challenge.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026
Russia took a step toward that future in August, when three Ukrainian civilians outside a gas station in Zaporizhzhia were killed by a drone believed to have been fully guided by AI.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of believe

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

Cite this Entry

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“Second-guess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-guess. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of second-guess

verb

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