as in guesses
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
as in assumes
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of surmises
Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Cohen surmises that the home was the first on the block.
—Culture Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Jan. 2026
Morgan correctly surmises that a misdelivered piece of mail was a move by the Game Master and not just a fuckup by the postal service.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
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
Verb
Upon entering the house, Donnie surmises there is an orgy-type party going on.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Cohen surmises that the home was the first on the block.
—Culture Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Jan. 2026
Morgan correctly surmises that a misdelivered piece of mail was a move by the Game Master and not just a fuckup by the postal service.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surmises
Noun
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Brown rejected guesses of Tony Parker and Mark Jackson.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
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In addition, however, many pitched their guesses as to who the governor was referring to, providing a pretty solid lists of potential candidates for coronation.—
Kaitlyn McCormick,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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An earlier analysis from Deutsche Bank pointed out that the CBO assumes the primary deficit—the shortfall between revenue and spending excluding interest payments on debt—is expected to remain relatively stable over the next decade and beyond at about 2% of GDP.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
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Importantly, guidance for both the current quarter and full year assumes no economic improvement.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Leo’s fine, one supposes, as evil plantation owner Calvin Candie, but the role is not a natural fit for him.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
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The first theory supposes that the Big Bang produced dense spots that didn’t collapse immediately.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As for what’s next, Puck speculates that another season 1 writer will be elevated to showrunner if the show is renewed.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Apr. 2026
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Portnoy also speculates that the backlash for the Unwell Winter Games and Sofia Franklyn’s upcoming memoir is adding fuel to the Cooper fire.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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One thinks of the citizens of Buffy’s Sunnydale, blithely going about their business, not moving away despite being located on a Hellmouth.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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But Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG, thinks the Fed should formally change its policy stance.—
Steve Liesman,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That presumes enrollment in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and Medicare Part D, which includes premiums, co-payments, and other out-of-pocket costs for medical care and prescription drugs.—
Terry Savage,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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But that presumes past voting patterns hold in November.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Although the wine mom has certain advantages for effecting political change in an age of hyperpolitics, one still suspects that the commonest usage of the term is rooted in reflexive, sexist disdain.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
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When a grisly death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio suspects murder and employs their knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Surmises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surmises. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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