Thesaurus results for DEDUCE

Q: How is the word 'deduce' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of deduce are conclude , gather , infer , and judge . While all these words mean "to arrive at a mental conclusion," deduce often adds to infer the special implication of drawing a particular inference from a generalization. // denied we could deduce anything important from human mortality

Q: Where would 'conclude' be a reasonable alternative to 'deduce'?

The words conclude and deduce can be used in similar contexts, but conclude implies arriving at a necessary inference at the end of a chain of reasoning. // concluded that only the accused could be guilty

Q: When can 'gather' be used instead of 'deduce'?

The words gather and deduce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gather suggests an intuitive forming of a conclusion from implications. // gathered their desire to be alone without a word

Q: When could 'infer' be used to replace 'deduce'?

While the synonyms infer and deduce are close in meaning, infer implies arriving at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence; if the evidence is slight, the term comes close to surmise . // from that remark, I inferred that they knew each other

Q: When is 'judge' a more appropriate choice than 'deduce'?

While in some cases nearly identical to deduce , judge stresses a weighing of the evidence on which a conclusion is based. // judge people by their actions

deduce

verb

di-ˈdüs

Definition of deduce next

as in to derive

to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information I can deduce from the simple observation of your behavior that you're trying to hide something from me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word deduce distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of deduce are conclude, gather, infer, and judge. While all these words mean "to arrive at a mental conclusion," deduce often adds to infer the special implication of drawing a particular inference from a generalization.

denied we could deduce anything important from human mortality

Where would conclude be a reasonable alternative to deduce?

The words conclude and deduce can be used in similar contexts, but conclude implies arriving at a necessary inference at the end of a chain of reasoning.

concluded that only the accused could be guilty

When can gather be used instead of deduce?

The words gather and deduce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gather suggests an intuitive forming of a conclusion from implications.

gathered their desire to be alone without a word

When could infer be used to replace deduce?

While the synonyms infer and deduce are close in meaning, infer implies arriving at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence; if the evidence is slight, the term comes close to surmise.

from that remark, I inferred that they knew each other

When is judge a more appropriate choice than deduce?

While in some cases nearly identical to deduce, judge stresses a weighing of the evidence on which a conclusion is based.

judge people by their actions

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 deduce In the finale, The Bride recognizes Clayface standing next to the princess on the security tape of the castle and deduces that Circe was right. —

Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire, 9 Jan. 2025 Manners deduced that Timken’s owner must have been a FEE supporter given his circulation of The Freeman. —

John Tamny, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025 As their guesses are accepted or rejected, players can deduce what the rules are. —

James Palmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Dec. 2024 By combining decadeslong photo records with the same statistical approach companies use to set life insurance rates, scientists have deduced that at least one species of whale survives almost twice as long as researchers expected. —

Bymitch Leslie, science.org, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for deduce

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deduce

Verb

Edith Newsome, 5th Ward, said using money — approximately $13 million — derived from gaming and cannabis sales is a better way to contribute to the partnership.

— Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
Zoom out: Shipley claims to be the U.S.'s largest chain whose sales are mostly derived from doughnuts, given that the majority of Dunkin's sales are tied to beverages, followed by Krispy Kreme, per Dekker.

— Richard Collings, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025