deemed; deeming; deems
: to come to think or judge : consider
deemed it wise to go slow
those whom she deemed worthy
a movie deemed appropriate for all ages
: to have an opinion : believe
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Originally, deem meant "to legally condemn." The word is still frequently used in contexts pertaining to the law but with the general meaning "to judge" or "to decide after inquiry and deliberation," as in "The act was deemed unlawful" or "The defendant is deemed to have agreed to the contract." Outside of the law, deem usually means simply "to consider."
Examples of deem in a Sentence
The principal will take whatever action she deems appropriate in this case.
I deem it fitting that we mark this solemn occasion with a day of prayer and thanksgiving.
Recent Examples on the Web
But some of them, including reopening the street to vehicle traffic, were later deemed unfeasible by then-police chief Joseph Chacon and then-director of the city’s Development Services Department, Denise Lucas.
—
Ella McCarthy, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Framingham, once a flagship of public health research, was deemed too open-ended.
—Time, 30 July 2025
Two-fifths of pregnant and breastfeeding women were deemed acutely malnourished in June.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 29 July 2025
To grant a commission to a person appointed, might perhaps be deemed a duty enjoined by the constitution.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for deem
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Ella McCarthy, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Framingham, once a flagship of public health research, was deemed too open-ended.
—Time, 30 July 2025
Two-fifths of pregnant and breastfeeding women were deemed acutely malnourished in June.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 29 July 2025
To grant a commission to a person appointed, might perhaps be deemed a duty enjoined by the constitution.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for deem
Cite this Entry
“Deem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deem. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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