guesswork

noun

Definition of guessworknext
as in speculation
the act or process of finding an answer by guessing This book takes the guesswork out of buying a home. Calculating the drug's long-term effects is pure guesswork.

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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 guesswork The best kinds of travel clothes are the ones that take the guesswork out of dressing, which the 2-in-1 Maxi Dress delivers in flying colors. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2026 With home try-on programs, this approach removes much of the concern and guesswork and lets a customer find the frames that best complement their appearance without ever having to leave their sofa. — K.h. Koehler, USA Today, 2 July 2026 Summer’s less is more motto rings especially true when a 90-degree afternoon is forecasted; a mini tank or spaghetti-strap midi will be a reliable choice to take the guesswork out of getting dressed. — Christina Holevas, Vogue, 25 June 2026 Having a wide array of Tinted Moisturizer and Secret Camouflage shades right at my fingertips completely took the guesswork out of putting together this routine. — Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for guesswork
Recent Examples of Synonyms for guesswork
  1. speculation
  2. inference
  3. conjecture
  4. theory
Noun
  • This is bound to reignite ongoing speculation about Chanel expanding into menswear, which reached new heights when the house tapped Pedro Pascal as ambassador in April under Blazy.
    — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 2 July 2026
  • Despite the speculation, very few details have emerged, and almost no leaks have surfaced.
    — Charlie Carballo, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of speculation
Noun
  • Nutanix comes at it from private inference and hybrid infrastructure.
    — Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • It is earned through transparency, verification, and a clear distinction between fact, inference, and speculation.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of inference
Noun
  • Following Taylor Swift's engagement announcement in August of 2025, the internet exploded with conjecture on the venue of the popstar's upcoming wedding.
    — Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 3 July 2026
  • By these arguments, an AI proof of a mathematical conjecture that has stubbornly resisted human efforts would be useful only if comprehensible to humans.
    — Benjamin Skuse, IEEE Spectrum, 25 June 2026
Definition of conjecture
Noun
  • Germ theory also emerged in the late 1800s, in which scientists discovered that germs caused disease.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • The two budding geniuses would sit in Charles’ apartment for hours, talking music theory and analyzing records, though Jones’s curiosity occasionally exhausted Charles.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 3 July 2026
Definition of theory

Browse Nearby Words

guesstimating
guesswork
guest
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Cite this Entry

“Guesswork.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/guesswork. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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