second-guess

sec·ond-guess

(sĕk′ənd-gĕs′)

v. sec·ond-guessed, sec·ond-guess·ing, sec·ond-guess·es

v.tr.

1. To criticize or correct after an outcome is known: "One hesitates to second-guess the jury's judgment from a distance of more than sixty years" (Ira Stoll).

2. 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). "Sometimes [General Halleck] second-guessed Grant and aired his objections to instructions instead of immediately transmitting them" (Brooks D. Simpson).

3.

a. To outguess.

b. To predict or anticipate: "She can second-guess indictments" (Scott Turow).

v.intr.

To criticize a decision, especially after its outcome is known.

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sec′ond-guess′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

second-guess

vb

1. to criticize or evaluate with hindsight

2. to attempt to anticipate or predict (a person or thing)

ˈsecond-ˈguesser n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

sec′ond-guess′

v.t.

1. to use hindsight in criticizing or correcting.

2. to outguess.

[1945–50]

sec′ond-guess′er, n.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

second-guess

Past participle: second-guessed
Gerund: second-guessing

Imperative

second-guess

second-guess

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	second-guess - attempt to anticipate or predict outguess forebode, predict, prognosticate, foretell, promise, anticipate, call - make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome of an election"
	2.	second-guess - evaluate or criticize with hindsight comment - explain or interpret something

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

second-guess

[ˌsɛk/əndˈgɛs] vt (esp) (Am) (fam) (predict) → anticipare; (after the event) → giudicare col senno di poi

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995