as in guess
an opinion or judgment based on little or no evidence
the many conjectures about the true identity of Jack the Ripper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to estimate
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement
he conjectured that the theater could seat 1000 people more or less
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to guess
to form an opinion from little or no evidence
you're only conjecturing that he was the culprit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of conjecture
Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 5 May 2025
Pope Francis, 88, died on Easter Monday, April 21, after a weeks-long illness, sparking a flurry of activity and conjecture as one of the world's oldest and most far-reaching institutions prepares to choose a new leader.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
In 1640, Pierre de Fermat conjectured that there are infinitely many primes that can be formulated by squaring two whole numbers and adding them together.
—Joseph Howlett, WIRED, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conjecture
Noun
Based on this assumption, one mathematician even built an entire edifice of conjectures about exotic spheres and other shapes.
—Erica Klarreich, Quanta Magazine, 5 May 2025
Pope Francis, 88, died on Easter Monday, April 21, after a weeks-long illness, sparking a flurry of activity and conjecture as one of the world's oldest and most far-reaching institutions prepares to choose a new leader.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Verb
Walker even conjectures that our peculiar sleep patterns may explain our evolutionary advance.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
In 1640, Pierre de Fermat conjectured that there are infinitely many primes that can be formulated by squaring two whole numbers and adding them together.
—Joseph Howlett, WIRED, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conjecture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conjecture
Noun
-
My guess is that, after all these years, the horizontal pipe had filled with water, rendering the vent useless.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
31 May 2025
-
Figuring out the right price for goods has long been a moving target, that used to come down to best guesses and luck trying to perfectly match supply with demand.—
Kathleen Walch,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Verb
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Over a 14-year period, the OCC estimated that hundreds of thousands of Wells Fargo employees did some type of phony sale, like issuing an unwanted debit card, the Observer had reported.—
Catherine Muccigrosso,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2025
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Survey respondents estimated many of the costs themselves, for instance.—
Meg Anderson,
NPR,
3 June 2025
Verb
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O’Connell and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown agreed this spring not to assume anything with McCarthy.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
-
Many retirement planners assume a 30-year retirement.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
29 May 2025
Noun
-
But the people interviewed for this story float several theories.—
Tyler Hicks,
Rolling Stone,
5 June 2025
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As fear grew in 2023 over the failure to reach a deal on raising the debt ceiling, the White House was said to be considering an option of last resort: an untested legal theory that involves invoking the 14th Amendment.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
Verb
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The aviation website One Mile at a Time reported the United jet made a sharp turn to the left instead of turning right, as it was supposed to.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
30 May 2025
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Originally supposed to fly Sierra Space Dream Chaser test flight, but payload switched to an inert mass simulator because of potential Dream Chaser delays beyond October launch date.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Virginia Tech researchers made this discovery after comparing the genomes of two distinct lineages of bed bugs – one that is suspected to have hitched a ride on a Neanderthal thousands of years ago, and another that stuck with its bat host.—
Bronwyn Thompson,
New Atlas,
28 May 2025
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The roommate — a 57-year-old man — suspected the woman’s ex-boyfriend was responsible, Jones said.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Losers, despite Wilken’s ruling, figure to be at least some of the walk-ons and partial scholarship athletes whose spots are gone.—
Eddie Pells,
Baltimore Sun,
7 June 2025
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To figure that amount, ask your employees to complete Form W-4.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
People aren’t speculating on numbers and things like that.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
-
Not that anyone should speculate on people’s race, but this is the modern internet, and unfortunately Arabella Stanton is instantly being put under a microscope for…looking mildly not white?—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Conjecture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conjecture. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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