SECOND-GUESSED Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words

second-guessed

verb

past tense of second-guess

as in outmaneuvered

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as in speculated (about)

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-guessed

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
For more than a decade, India’s leader Narendra Modi has seemed politically unassailable, presiding over a government that has outmaneuvered opponents, dominated public discourse and squeezed the space for dissent in the world’s biggest democracy.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 28 July 2026

Definition of outmaneuvered

Verb

The leader of the world’s largest chip company reasoned that his success wouldn’t have been possible without the opportunities America afforded him.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
This line of defense didn’t persuade Sweeney, who reasoned that adding athletes with expired eligibility would mean more, not less, market competition.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of reasoned

Verb

When Weber and Logan balked, the Justice Department promptly sued them and the state in a case currently pending in federal court.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Plus, it's previously balked at the marketing costs that come with bringing films to the cinema, which can total hundreds of millions of dollars per film.

— Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of balked

Verb

The new report, authored by Marc Rosenblum, a former head of the DHS Office of Homeland Security Statistics who left in July, relies on other records obtained through open-records requests and analyzed by outside groups.

— Ted Hesson, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026
Researchers analyzed data from more than 485,000 Chinese adults ages 30 to 79.

— Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of analyzed

Verb

To say that Cucurella was pleased, when the Spanish side outwitted the French in the semifinal, would be an understatement.

— Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
For Deschamps and Stephan, there was no shortage of blame after Spain’s Luis de la Fuente outwitted the French coaching staff for the third time, following wins at the 2024 European Championship and last year’s Nations League semi-final.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of outwitted

Verb

Behind the scenes, Muse uses a collection of digital notes and instructions to guide its personality, actions and memory, all of which can be reviewed, edited and deleted.

— Marty Swant, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Each project will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, Rhoads said.

— Marc Hayot, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of reviewed

Verb

While Shadab outsmarted England pace with his brilliant batting, Rauf gave him ample support by sensibly not going for expansive shots.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
But this will be forever known as a day when football’s smartest organization got outsmarted, when football’s best coach fumbled and when the San Francisco 49ers turned football’s giants into so much shrimp on the barbie.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of outsmarted

Verb

Investigators concluded those underlying allegations were not substantiated.

— Derek James, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
The rap superstar followed up its release with her first headlining arena run, dubbed the Little Miss Drama Tour, which began in February and concluded in April last year.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of concluded

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.

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

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Synonyms of second-guessed

verb

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