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The meaning of SECOND-GUESS is to criticize or question actions or decisions of (someone) often after the results of those actions or decisions are known; also : to engage in such criticism of (an action or decision). How to use second-guess in a sentence.
SECOND-GUESS definition: 1. to guess what someone will do in the future: 2. to criticize someone's actions or an event…. Learn more.
Synonyms for SECOND-GUESS: outguess, outsmart, outmaneuver, outwit, thwart, frustrate, balk, outfox; Antonyms of SECOND-GUESS: ignore, disregard, slight, overlook, dismiss, reject, pooh-pooh, pooh.
- Second-guessing can be good for your health: When we like it, we call it self-awareness or introspection. Look before you leap--it often keeps us from making one false move.
- Second-guessing can be bad for your health: When we don’t like it we call it being self-conscious. It can distract you from things that matter, it can makes us slow and inefficient, tongue-tied and weak—a pushover since anyone’s raised eyebrow can tip us easily into self-doubt.
- In a debate with those who don’t second-guess, you’ll lose even when you’re right: The self-certain know they’re on the side of truth and virtue. In debate they’re only mission--indeed their solemn duty--is to win by any means possible.
- Many people think they second-guess themselves but don’t: The self-confident follow their nose toward any kind of self-affirmation. With these folks, it’s easy to lead them by the nose into to a claim that they second-guess themselves, even though they don’t.
When you second-guess something, you either predict what will happen in the future, or look back and reevaluate something that happened in the past. You might second-guess your decision to wear shorts after it starts snowing.
To criticize, contradict, or overrule (a decision or one who has made a decision): "When he wants to prescribe costly but powerful medicines, faraway HMO clerks second-guess his drug choices" (George Anders).
Second-guess definition: to use hindsight in criticizing or correcting.. See examples of SECOND-GUESS used in a sentence.
