Second-guess

Quick meaning: Second-guess is a verb meaning (transitive) To vet or evaluate; to criticize or correct, often by hindsight, by presuming to have a better idea, method, etc.

Meaning

(transitive) To vet or evaluate; to criticize or correct, often by hindsight, by presuming to have a better idea, method, etc.

More Meanings

1. (transitive, intransitive) To anticipate or predict someone's actions or thoughts by guesswork.

Example Sentences

Please don't try to second-guess the procedure that we have already refined and adopted.

In this day and age, it's so easy to stress / 'Cause people are strange and you can never second-guess

If you suspect you've stepped over the line, ask a few other copy editors to second-guess your headline.

Public administration would be hamstrung if courts were free to second-guess reasonable administrative decisions.

Word Forms

• second-guesses
• second-guessing
• second-guessed

Synonyms for second-guess

Depending on context, synonyms include reconsider, rethink.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include anticipate, preempt, pre-empt, challenge, contest, jeopardize.

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