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
There’s no need to hunt down a law office, worry about upfront fees, or second-guess whether the attorney is legitimate.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 6 June 2025
This could force hackers to second-guess their allies, and the anonymity of the dark web would become a threat.
—Can Yildizli, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Someday we Americans may stop quarreling over our response to the COVID-19 pandemic — lockdown orders, social distancing and so forth — but one category of debate may never become immune to second-guessing.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
But checking her trial notes during deliberations the next day, Juror No. 1 began to second-guess her conclusion that the messages were junk.
—Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-guess
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Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 6 June 2025
This could force hackers to second-guess their allies, and the anonymity of the dark web would become a threat.
—Can Yildizli, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Someday we Americans may stop quarreling over our response to the COVID-19 pandemic — lockdown orders, social distancing and so forth — but one category of debate may never become immune to second-guessing.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
But checking her trial notes during deliberations the next day, Juror No. 1 began to second-guess her conclusion that the messages were junk.
—Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-guess
Cite this Entry
“Second-guess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/second-guess. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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