surmise 1 of 2

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

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surmise

2 of 2

verb

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 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
On the podcast, Allen calmly surmised his time on Earth is numbered, and shot down Maher's suggestion that artificial intelligence might prolong his life. Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025 Center staff surmised the bird had become entangled in fishing line. Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 9 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for surmise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surmise
Noun
  • When that might be, though, is anyone’s guess.
    Medora Lee, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • My best guess is that the Jets run Stanley and Schenn on the third pair, based on games played and time on ice per game last season.
    Murat Ates, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Additionally, vice president of operations Donna Washington will assume a new role as vice president of external affairs.
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Enterprises often assume that simply scaling data—collecting millions more images or video hours—will close the performance gap.
    Brian Moore, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • You’re supposed to win when that happens … except that the two Dodgers starters, Shohei Ohtani and Blake Snell, were equally dominating.
    Jayson Stark, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The lawsuit says Osman was only supposed to remove part of the gland if cancer was found, but no cancer was detected.
    Real-Time News team, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The rescue mission will prioritize locating those presumed alive, Suharyanto said, but the bodies of the victims will be recovered in due time.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The Coast Guard pulled the rafters aboard — they were saved, and presumed their rescuers would swiftly deliver them to Florida.
    Miriam Pensack, The Dial, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Surmise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surmise. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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