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

Relevance

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
In the study, Ned correctly surmises that Colum riled Dougal up into beating Malcolm so that Colum could be seen as the cooler head/better leader. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 8 Aug. 2025 Anyone who has watched Pivetta stalk and stomp and gesticulate and glare and snap his glove to catch a throw from the catcher after a bad call and shout after an inning-ending out can easily surmise how much Pivetta’s intensity is part of his game. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for surmise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surmise
Noun
  • As for Cracker Barrel, where the company goes from here is anyone’s guess.
    Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
  • My guess is that many of those fans are in the American south, in the middle of SEC and Big 12 country, where the density of NFL teams is comparatively light.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The fire is assumed to have been sparked by lightning.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The reintroduction team assumed most of the population would settle in the southern third of Indiana, where large reservoirs and river systems create ample habitat.
    Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Was he supposed to laugh at him and call him a loser?
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Reflecting on her own experience with Maddox, O’Connor said nobody educates parents on what they’re supposed to ask for.
    IndyStar, IndyStar, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • But some analysts have worried about a disclosure from Nvidia that 44% of revenue from chip sales to data centers is derived from just two customers, presumed to be Microsoft and Meta Platforms.
    John Kell, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Surmise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surmise. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on surmise

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!