as in assumed
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in guessed
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Recent Examples of surmised
Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
In fact, some investigators hired by media outlets have surmised that McDermott faked his own death and is still alive somewhere in Mexico.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Google Street View images of a communal dining area, interior rooms and a bowling alley passed on the screen as the vehicle continued through the building, which a reporter determined later to be an actual retirement complex, just as the group members had surmised.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Freep.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Adama surmised that the Russians were low on drones and attempting to resupply.
—Ken Harbaugh, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Center staff surmised the bird had become entangled in fishing line.
—Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 9 Aug. 2025
For the last three years, fans have surmised that one of the albums would be rock.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
And because the fossil record shows the widespread decline of American megafauna starting around the same time - with North America losing 70% of its large mammals, and South America losing more than 80% - many researchers surmised that humans' arrival led to mass extinctions.
—CBS News, 20 Dec. 2024
And because the fossil record shows the widespread decline of American megafauna starting around the same time — with North America losing 70% of its large mammals, and South America losing more than 80% — many researchers surmised that humans’ arrival led to mass extinctions.
—Christina Larson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
If politicians were denied their pay, many surmised, the shutdown would wrap up quickly.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
In fact, some investigators hired by media outlets have surmised that McDermott faked his own death and is still alive somewhere in Mexico.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
Google Street View images of a communal dining area, interior rooms and a bowling alley passed on the screen as the vehicle continued through the building, which a reporter determined later to be an actual retirement complex, just as the group members had surmised.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Freep.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Adama surmised that the Russians were low on drones and attempting to resupply.
—Ken Harbaugh, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Center staff surmised the bird had become entangled in fishing line.
—Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 9 Aug. 2025
For the last three years, fans have surmised that one of the albums would be rock.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
And because the fossil record shows the widespread decline of American megafauna starting around the same time - with North America losing 70% of its large mammals, and South America losing more than 80% - many researchers surmised that humans' arrival led to mass extinctions.
—CBS News, 20 Dec. 2024
And because the fossil record shows the widespread decline of American megafauna starting around the same time — with North America losing 70% of its large mammals, and South America losing more than 80% — many researchers surmised that humans’ arrival led to mass extinctions.
—Christina Larson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surmised
Verb
-
Nelson may have guessed correctly on the president digging his heels into tariffs seven years on from his first term, but the taxes may not be around for much longer.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Some of you might have guessed.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In the first season, tThe drama based on James Patterson’s best-selling novel series saw Cross pursue a narcissistic serial killer played by Ryan Eggold and uncover Miss Nancy as an assumed stalker endangering his family.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The album’s final first-week sales number is expected to be announced on Sunday, Oct. 12, along with its assumed large debut on the multi-metric Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Oct. 18).—
Keith Caulfield,
Billboard,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As gutting as that was, the team received uplifting news on each player Monday indicating that neither injury was as serious as initially thought.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Five years on, and somehow, the American economy has not only avoided a contraction but has managed to grow—an outcome many investors thought impossible.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The presumed reasoning behind why the film was ignored is multilayered.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Some suspected a secret government weapons test, or a bomb planted in a plot to mine diamonds under the lake, while others heard tales of old witches turning into savannah buffalo and plunging into the lake.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
-
These problems, which many of us suspected were issues coming into this season, can’t be argued based on the team’s 1-6 start, and how this 2025 rendition of South Florida’s NFL franchise has performed in those seven games.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The Heat and Hornets have been linked in recent headlines in the wake of guard Terry Rozier’s arrest this past Thursday stemming from his alleged involvement in a sports betting scheme.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The hearing gives the defense a chance to cross-examine witnesses and force prosecutors to show evidence in court that establishes probable cause to bring charges in the alleged crime.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Here, teachers aren’t supposed to tell students that the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 — a defining incident of racial violence in Oklahoma history — was perpetrated by racists.—
Jennifer Smith Richards,
ProPublica,
22 Oct. 2025
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So, my vocal cords, they’re supposed to look parallel.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Surmised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surmised. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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