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

But the ambush of UnitedHealthcare’s Thompson this week is bound to get some CEOs second-guessing. —Adam Geller, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024

The following day, Mars will station retrograde in Leo, which could cause you to second-guess some of your most recent choices. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 Dec. 2024

By keeping control, Zuckerberg ensured that VCs did not second-guess his strategy or his leadership. —Dileep Rao, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

There are larger spiritual concerns swirling in the background this month as Jupiter approaches another square to Saturn on December 24, which prompts another bout of second-guessing yourself and struggling to make meaning out of everything that’s happened to you in the last few years. —Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Nov. 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