as in guess
an opinion or judgment based on little or no evidence
the many conjectures about the true identity of Jack the Ripper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to estimate
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement
he conjectured that the theater could seat 1000 people more or less
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to guess
to form an opinion from little or no evidence
you're only conjecturing that he was the culprit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of conjecture
Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 5 May 2025
Pope Francis, 88, died on Easter Monday, April 21, after a weeks-long illness, sparking a flurry of activity and conjecture as one of the world's oldest and most far-reaching institutions prepares to choose a new leader.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
In 1640, Pierre de Fermat conjectured that there are infinitely many primes that can be formulated by squaring two whole numbers and adding them together.
—Joseph Howlett, WIRED, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conjecture
Noun
Based on this assumption, one mathematician even built an entire edifice of conjectures about exotic spheres and other shapes.
—Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 5 May 2025
Pope Francis, 88, died on Easter Monday, April 21, after a weeks-long illness, sparking a flurry of activity and conjecture as one of the world's oldest and most far-reaching institutions prepares to choose a new leader.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Verb
Walker even conjectures that our peculiar sleep patterns may explain our evolutionary advance.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
In 1640, Pierre de Fermat conjectured that there are infinitely many primes that can be formulated by squaring two whole numbers and adding them together.
—Joseph Howlett, WIRED, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conjecture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conjecture
Noun
-
Figuring out the right price for goods has long been a moving target, that used to come down to best guesses and luck trying to perfectly match supply with demand.—
Kathleen Walch,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
My guess is that, after all these years, the horizontal pipe had filled with water, rendering the vent useless.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
But those modest provisions, frequently touted by Republicans, aren't estimated to produce any savings.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 June 2025
-
The University of Arizona estimated that roughly 2,500 to 3,000 wild mountain lions are living in the state.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
Sponsors may assume their site partners are ready, only to discover costly delays during study startup.—
Sonali Bloom,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
For present purposes, the Court can assume (as seems likely) that Congress intended to preclude the President (or any subordinate officials acting at his direction) from directing, supervising, or controlling the Corporation.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
But the people interviewed for this story float several theories.—
Tyler Hicks,
Rolling Stone,
5 June 2025
-
As fear grew in 2023 over the failure to reach a deal on raising the debt ceiling, the White House was said to be considering an option of last resort: an untested legal theory that involves invoking the 14th Amendment.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
Originally supposed to fly Sierra Space Dream Chaser test flight, but payload switched to an inert mass simulator because of potential Dream Chaser delays beyond October launch date.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2025
-
The video overlay text explained that the group of passengers was headed supposed to be headed from Naples to Atlanta, but their flight was canceled after over seven hours of delays.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
Since Friday, the city and its suburbs have seen federal officers from various agencies face off against protesters who have unsuccessfully tried to stop them from conducting workplace raids or transport people suspected of being in this country illegally to detention facilities.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
-
Kenneth Roth, the man suspected in her slaying as well as several other women’s murders, died of COVID-19 in prison in 2020.—
Stephanie Warsmith,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
Losers, despite Wilken’s ruling, figure to be at least some of the walk-ons and partial scholarship athletes whose spots are gone.—
Eddie Pells,
Baltimore Sun,
7 June 2025
-
To figure that amount, ask your employees to complete Form W-4.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Fans have oft speculated that grief and suicide serve as central themes of The Haunting of Hill House, a show that was loosely based on the 1959 Shirley Jackson novel.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
7 June 2025
-
For years, fans have speculated about the Barbie star finally joining the MCU.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Conjecture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conjecture. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share