second-guess

Definition of second-guessnext

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 second-guess Summary Making major decisions is often followed by unexpected doubt, as leaders second-guess their choices. — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 The school supply aisle has a way of making parents second-guess everything. — Adrienne Farr, Parents, 15 Aug. 2026 These communications, Kroger said, led C&S to second-guess the initial agreement, creating a domino effect and prompting the Washington court to block the sale. — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026 The Republican administration argued that judges cannot second-guess immigration officials’ decisions about protections that were intended to be temporary. — Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for second-guess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-guess
Verb
  • No one knows for sure, and older investors are often better served by accepting that uncertainty rather than trying to outguess it.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
  • With the right guardrails in place, investors don't have to outguess the market.
    — Chris Stevens, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Local processing could help rovers analyze terrain, interpret sensor readings, and support decisions without sending every piece of data back to Earth.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Databricks helps organizations collect, process, and analyze large amounts of data and has been used by companies, such as Al-Futtaim Group, to help optimize its supply chain and develop a customer loyalty program.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Despite Riyadh’s considerable air defenses and vast military spending, the militants have been able to outsmart the systems using relatively cheap drones and missiles.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In his younger days, Presnell seemed to enjoy outsmarting people.
    — Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Queried by The News, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office declined to comment on prosecutors’ reasoning for downgrading the murder charge beyond what was said in court.
    — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The pandemic, of course, gave plenty of business leaders reason to change strategic course.
    — Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • First-year Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur, the Rams’ former offensive coordinator, outcoached and outmaneuvered McVay, his friend and mentor.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The original 1960s cars had legendary status dominating the Monte Carlo Rally, outmaneuvering heavier machinery across icy mountain passes with lightweight agility rather than brute off-road hardware.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • For that reason, Republicans believe the seat is a likely pickup this fall in what is otherwise a difficult midterm environment.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, Head of National Counter Terrorism Policing in the UK, said police believed the country Abdulkarim was assisting was Iran.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The Dogs tend to be just that, loyal meatheads of the kind that clever agents like River can outwit by the dozen.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Diagnose the monster before deciding which mind and which move are required to outwit it.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The feat concludes a pursuit that began in 2009, when Zhang first experimented with riding a motorcycle on water and overcame early failures to achieve his latest goal.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The meeting concluded with a general consensus among School Board members and City Council representatives to move forward with feasibility studies, cost breakdowns and formal design reviews before drafting a binding interlocal agreement.
    — Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Second-guess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-guess. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster