second-guess
verb
sec·ond-guess
ˌse-kᵊŋ-ˈges 
-kən(d)-
second-guessed; second-guessing; second-guesses
1
: to criticize or question actions or decisions of (someone) often after the results of those actions or decisions are known
meet almost every morning and, over coffee, second-guess the local coach—
Bruce Newman
Bruce Newman
also
: to engage in such criticism of (an action or decision)
second-guess the general's strategy
2
: to seek to anticipate or predict
lived royally by his ability to second-guess the stock market—Time
Time
second-guesser
noun
Examples of second-guess in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Now, some surfers and other Baja California adventurers are second-guessing what the future might hold for such trips.
—San Diego Union Tribune, Orange County Register, 14 May 2024
No second-guessing If only a certain reckless ex-president had acted with as much responsibility and dispatch.
—Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 11 May 2024
Southers second-guessed some aspects of the initiative in a 2017 Times op-ed.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
Other justices appeared to agree that the government had provided sufficient explanation as currently required under the law, and that State Department decisions on visas should not be second-guessed by judges.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
That fact led to plenty of second-guessing afterward.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
The Nuclear Medicine Clarification Act does not second-guess the radiation level that NRC has determined could indicate potential problems in handling nuclear materials.
—Pam Kohl and Bill Kiser, STAT, 12 Apr. 2024
In situations that call for a compliment, don’t second-guess yourself.
—Angela Haupt, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Torian said his position is that the General Assembly did its job — passed a balanced budget with bipartisan support — and should not be asked by the governor to second-guess itself.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
San Diego Union Tribune, Orange County Register, 14 May 2024
No second-guessing If only a certain reckless ex-president had acted with as much responsibility and dispatch.
—Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 11 May 2024
Southers second-guessed some aspects of the initiative in a 2017 Times op-ed.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
Other justices appeared to agree that the government had provided sufficient explanation as currently required under the law, and that State Department decisions on visas should not be second-guessed by judges.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024
That fact led to plenty of second-guessing afterward.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
The Nuclear Medicine Clarification Act does not second-guess the radiation level that NRC has determined could indicate potential problems in handling nuclear materials.
—Pam Kohl and Bill Kiser, STAT, 12 Apr. 2024
In situations that call for a compliment, don’t second-guess yourself.
—Angela Haupt, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
Torian said his position is that the General Assembly did its job — passed a balanced budget with bipartisan support — and should not be asked by the governor to second-guess itself.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'second-guess.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near second-guess
Cite this Entry
“Second-guess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-guess. Accessed 23 May. 2024.
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