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
If Harris loses, she will be second-guessed for being too cautious, selecting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) as her running mate and not distancing herself more from President Biden.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
Nick, whose father helped orchestrate condominium recovery efforts in Naples, thinks the one-two punch of Helene and Milton has his parents second-guessing — especially with the complex once again buried under a foot of sand.
—Will Peischel, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2024
Part of it is the Trump effect, which again has pollsters second-guessing themselves, and in particular, which factors matter most in gaming out voter behavior.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024
If Harris wins, Republicans will second-guess their decision to ride with Trump through a third presidential cycle.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 31 Oct. 2024
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Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
Nick, whose father helped orchestrate condominium recovery efforts in Naples, thinks the one-two punch of Helene and Milton has his parents second-guessing — especially with the complex once again buried under a foot of sand.
—Will Peischel, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2024
Part of it is the Trump effect, which again has pollsters second-guessing themselves, and in particular, which factors matter most in gaming out voter behavior.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024
If Harris wins, Republicans will second-guess their decision to ride with Trump through a third presidential cycle.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for second-guess
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 26 Nov. 2024.
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