conjecture 1 of 2

noun

kən-ˈjek-chər How to pronounce conjecture (audio)
Definition of conjecturenext
as in guess
an opinion or judgment based on little or no evidence the many conjectures about the true identity of Jack the Ripper

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conjecture

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to estimate
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement he conjectured that the theater could seat 1000 people more or less

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to guess
to form an opinion from little or no evidence you're only conjecturing that he was the culprit

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 conjecture
Noun
On its surface, the conjecture concerns the behavior of a particular function. — Quanta Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026 After Jones shined during his first start, the Gators’ quarterback decision will be scrutinized and dissected, fueling two weeks of endless conjecture leading up to the Georgia game. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
Verb
Humans propose conjectures, guided by intuition. — Benjamin Skuse, IEEE Spectrum, 25 June 2026 To be more precise, Erdős conjectured that the number of unit distances would be n^(1+o(1)). — ArsTechnica, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for conjecture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conjecture
  1. guess
  2. estimate
  3. assume
  4. theory
  5. figure
  6. suppose
  7. calculate
  8. suspect
Noun
  • Other guesses had commenters point to The Substance, The Little Mermaid’s Ursula, SpongeBob, and the Demogorgons from Stranger Things.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2026
  • What lurks over the next ridge or the next nightfall is anyone’s guess.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of guess
Verb
  • One cattle producer quoted in the New York Times estimated that using smart collars had saved him nearly $1 million in cattle health costs.
    — Robert Kelly, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • By the 1920s, it was estimated that one out of seven Long Islanders belonged to the Ku Klux Klan.
    — Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of estimate
Verb
  • Figures assume a married, two-earner couple with one child earning $99,999 and are not adjusted for inflation.
    — Martie Bowser, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Walczak’s estimates assume local governments raise tax rates enough to fully replace the lost revenue, based on state property records for every parcel in Florida.
    — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of assume
Noun
  • Pike didn’t always have such a cogent theory of the power of the body in performance.
    — Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The idea that the absence of private property and systematic inequality automatically removes coercion—which forms the core of the Marxist theory of history—is not proven.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of theory
Verb
  • Invisible hands built Wikipedia, but those of the free market hardly figured.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Murphy figured the Irish needed to win or tie just about every inning.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of figure
Verb
  • Rodríguez was initially supposed to serve only 90 days as acting president, but has remained in office and has made no move to call an election.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • David Moore, who fields the short-field punts precisely because he’s supposed to be sure-handed, muffed one.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of suppose
Verb
  • Scores from the law firm are calculated by analyzing the number of cyclist victims, change in victim rate and bicycle-friendly community recognition.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Official satellite data showed the rainforest lost 1,300 square miles from August 2025 through July, the period used to calculate the annual rate.
    — Gabriela Sá Pessoa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of calculate
Verb
  • Kaula suspects a few of his colleagues were trapped in the basement.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Detective’s interview with nurse An Independence police detective interviewed Lawson’s nurse, who worked overnight when the shooting is suspected to have occurred.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of suspect

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conjecture
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Cite this Entry

“Conjecture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conjecture. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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