second-guessing

noun

The act or habit of vetting, evaluating; criticizing or correcting, often by hindsight, by presuming to have a better idea, method, etc.

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Meanings

nounsecond-guessing (countable and uncountable, plural second-guessings)

plural second-guessings

  1. countableuncountableThe act or habit of vetting, evaluating; criticizing or correcting, often by hindsight, by presuming to have a better idea, method, etc.
  2. countableuncountableThe act or habit of anticipating or predicting someone's actions or thoughts by guesswork.
verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of second-guess
Cite this entry
APA

second-guessing. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/second-guessing

MLA

“second-guessing.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/second-guessing. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “second-guessing,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/second-guessing.

Source: second-guessing on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.