Synonyms of surmise

surmise 1 of 2

noun

sər-ˈmīz 

as in guess

an opinion or judgment based on little or no evidence

my surmise is that the couple's "good news" is the announcement that they are going to have a baby

Synonyms & Similar Words

• guess
• conjecture
• theory
• guessing
• hypothesis
• supposition
• hunch
• speculation
• shot in the dark
• hypothetical
• thesis
• shot
• belief
• intuition
• guesswork
• dead reckoning
• faith

surmise

2 of 2

verb

sər-ˈmīz 

as in to guess

to form an opinion from little or no evidence

we surmised that she had purchased the apple pie since there was a bakery box on the kitchen counter

Synonyms & Similar Words

• guess
• assume
• suppose
• presume
• suspect
• think
• imagine
• speculate
• believe
• conjecture
• suspicion
• daresay
• conclude
• infer
• deduce
• expect
• gather
• hypothesize
• theorize
• reckon
• conceive
• judge
• hypothecate
• take

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prove
• establish
• demonstrate
• determine
• learn
• ascertain
• document
• validate
• substantiate
• find out

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of surmise

Noun

One surmise is that the syndrome is caused by residual viral debris that continues to activate and/or exhaust the immune system. — Melissa Healystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2022

Instead, Rodrigues and Ohlrogge surmise, the glut of retail investors are probably not showing up for the vote. — Scott Nover, Quartz, 7 Sep. 2022

Verb

Her large flat-screen living room television was missing, leading detectives at the time to surmise the killer may have known that footage from the victim’s surveillance cameras could be watched on that TV. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Aug. 2026

One rival executive who has spoken with Preller recently surmised that the initial ask would be at least two top-100 prospects. — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 23 July 2026