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as in to speculate (about)
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of second-guess
This no-bake dessert recipe came together in a matter of minutes, which didn’t give me much time to second-guess myself.
—
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2026
Say it, because there’s no reason to second-guess it!
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
While counting the president’s fallacies has become routine, the ideological subservience of his senior-most cabinet members and advisors this term has given the public reason to second-guess statements and data issued by them or their offices.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
Oliver gives Lilly some key words that force her to second-guess her decision.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for second-guess
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2026
Say it, because there’s no reason to second-guess it!
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026
While counting the president’s fallacies has become routine, the ideological subservience of his senior-most cabinet members and advisors this term has given the public reason to second-guess statements and data issued by them or their offices.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
Oliver gives Lilly some key words that force her to second-guess her decision.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for second-guess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for second-guess
Verb
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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
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With the right guardrails in place, investors don't have to outguess the market.—
Chris Stevens,
Nashville Tennessean,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Instead of drafting franchise cornerstones in JaMarr Chase or Penei Sewell, ex-GM Chris Grier outsmarted himself.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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Earth Day is the one day a year when picking up litter feels less like a chore and more like joining a very low-budget superhero league — no cape required, just a decent pair of gloves and a willingness to outsmart a rogue plastic bag.—
Vytas Reid,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the new traffic data the railroads analyzed from all the major freight railroads convinced executives that more job growth is likely.—
Josh Funk,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Iran has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to exploit the rhythms of American politics — election cycles, media pressures, bureaucratic fragmentation — to delay, confuse, and outmaneuver counterparts.—
Gaurav Srivastava,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Apr. 2026
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Krüger trained Filou to test out a working theory that seals use their whiskers to outmaneuver fish trying to escape them.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Maybe this closure doesn’t mean much to the park’s owner, Suriel reasoned.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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And chatbots that can reason and act on their own are far more effective than conventional algorithms at autonomously soliciting information from users.—
Brian Jay Tang,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Twenty-six years ago, students treated a visit by then-President Bill Clinton as a challenge, and outwitted the Secret Service by secretly rigging a banner to unfurl at an inopportune moment.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
26 Apr. 2026
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Bob Markle was good at outwitting violators.—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There is the lamb-like dreamer, Wesley So, and the trollish Hikaru Nakamura, who believes that his unprecedented success as a streamer has secured him a greater legacy than any prestigious chess title would.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
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The University of Massachusetts poll, fielded among 1,000 Americans, found 74% believe there are more things uniting them than dividing them.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Frey unleashed his five-pitch arsenal, thwarting the Spartans most of the way.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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Russia’s defense ministry said its paramilitary forces helped thwart a coup.—
Preeti Jha,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Second-guess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/second-guess. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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