deduce

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

Examples 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 If among the original target audience only 50% of the HCPs were high-value prescribers, a healthcare marketer would be able to deduce that 75% of their total budget should be allocated to this group—leaving a small, functional budget for the remaining target audience. Kamya Elawadhi, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024 The hypothesis may also help researchers deduce why Earth experienced one of its chilliest global deep freezes, which could have been caused by the shadow cast from the ring. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 23 Nov. 2024 Since stars typically form in pairs or triplets, rather than a single star, scientists deduced that binary star systems were orbiting near the black hole, Peissker said. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 17 Dec. 2024 In the hospital, Dexter deduces that Harry’s worsening condition is due to the deadly care of Nurse Mary, whom his father then instructs Dexter to kill. Hunter Ingram, Variety, 13 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for deduce 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deduce
Verb
  • Part of Punk’s straight-edge lifestyle and persona is derived from his challenging childhood.
    Erica Marrison, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Mexican Names for Baby Girls Luna The name is derived from Roman mythology where Luna was the goddess of the moon.
    Marilyn La Jeunesse, Parents, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Want to understand the impact of tech on your body and how to live better with your devices?
    Manuela López Restrepo, NPR, 18 Jan. 2025
  • The past week has proven a surreal one for TikTok's users and creators, many of whom are struggling to understand how this proved to be the one issue that could unite Democrats and Republicans.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Content creators and influencers must decide what to do with the looming TikTok ban.
    Emma Cortes Ellendt, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
  • By April 2024, Zellner decided to file a clemency petition asking that Pritzker exonerate Calusinski or release her for time served.
    Stephanie Slifer, CBS News, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Similarly, product purchases like sensitive healthcare items—from over-the-counter medications to home-testing kits—could be used to infer medical conditions or life circumstances.
    Jason Snyder, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
  • Pangloss triumphantly infers that without syphilis there would have been no chocolate.
    Anthony Gottlieb, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deduce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deduce. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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