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
The 6ft 4in (193cm) Italian waited patiently until the right moment (even second-guessing himself at one point), before making room for himself by swinging out to the right, powering past Groves and sprinting to the win.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Her inner conflict, though, is all the more compelling in the face of her boyfriend’s refusal to second-guess himself.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 July 2025
Towards the end of the month, Mercury will station retrograde in your sign on July 18, which can leave you questioning or second-guessing your choices.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 8 July 2025
For sure, the budget was shaky, the plan was very questionable, but the leap happened anyway, ahead of the second-guessing.
—Chad Willardson, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for second-guess
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Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Her inner conflict, though, is all the more compelling in the face of her boyfriend’s refusal to second-guess himself.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 July 2025
Towards the end of the month, Mercury will station retrograde in your sign on July 18, which can leave you questioning or second-guessing your choices.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 8 July 2025
For sure, the budget was shaky, the plan was very questionable, but the leap happened anyway, ahead of the second-guessing.
—Chad Willardson, Forbes.com, 7 July 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 21 Jul. 2025.
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