second-guess

verb

sec·​ond-guess ˌse-kᵊŋ-ˈges 

-kən(d)-

second-guessed; second-guessing; second-guesses

transitive verb

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

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

second-guesser noun

Examples of second-guess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This article will highlight three support areas for managers who are second-guessing and over-cautious about fostering inclusion. —Simone E. Morris, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024

Don’t second-guess yourself; trust and believe in your abilities. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2024

Kind of hard to second-guess that move, but the Bears will be armed with two second-rounders in 2025. —Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2024

Yet The Franchise deftly mines those very issues, with characters struggling with budget limitations and panicking, second-guessing studio bosses. —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

second-guess

verb

sec·​ond-guess

ˌsek-ᵊŋ-ˈges,

-ən-

1

: to question or criticize actions or decisions of (someone) often after the results of those actions or decisions are known

2

: predict

second-guesser noun