deduce

verb

di-ˈdüs How to pronounce deduce (audio)
Definition of deducenext
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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Synonym Chooser

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

Example 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 The redactions in the documents made public Tuesday are so extensive that little can be deduced about Prince Harry’s immigration records themselves, or even the volume of records withheld. —Rebekah Riess, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025 The researchers also looked at how other large sharks and whales move through water to deduce the megalodon’s shape. —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Mar. 2025 This led the researchers to deduce that the lake was shallow, at less than about 2 meters deep. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2025 From fossils found in Spain, researchers have deduced that H. antecessor lived in Western Europe between 1.2 million and 800,000 years ago. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deduce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deduce
  1. derive
  2. understand
  3. decide
  4. infer
Verb
  • The name is derived from metal legs that extend out to keep the bag standing upright.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Trump has derived his authority to impose tariffs by declaring a national emergency caused by the flow of fentanyl and undocumented migration from Canada, Mexico and China.
    — Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of derive
Verb
  • IndieWire understands the festival was waiting to confirm Denzel Washington’s attendance, and indeed the star will be at Cannes.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • At some point 3 to 4 billion years ago, Mars lost its atmosphere for reasons not yet fully understood, and with it, the temperate conditions that allowed liquid water to exist on its surface.
    — Jonathan O’Callaghan, JSTOR Daily, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of understand
Verb
  • Then President Nayib Bukele decided enough was enough.
    — Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Connie Stevens has put her house in a gated suburban enclave of Los Angeles up for sale, while Muse frontman Matt Bellamy and Wonder Woman director Patty Stevens have also decided to say goodbye to their deluxe digs in other parts of the city.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of decide
Verb
  • By monitoring these dips, astronomers can infer the presence of a planet, its size and the length of its orbit.
    — Victoria Corless, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Planets exert gentle influence on nearby stars, so by watching the wobble, dimming or distortion of starlight, scientists can infer the presence of these elusive targets.
    — Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of infer

Browse Nearby Words

dedicatory
deduce
deduced
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Cite this Entry

“Deduce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deduce. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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